Preparing

[smcggg11]

I live in central PA with my boyfriend. In a few months he is moving to Virginia Beach and I can't come due to school. What do I do? How do we make an LDR work? I'm so afraid, how often to they work out? We'd only be apart about a year. I need help.

[squeeker]

Hi, welcome to LFAD!

Take a deep breaths, you will be okay. This site is filled with people making long distance work all the time. A year will go by quickly.. find some hobbies you can do during those times you can't talk.. get skype on your computer if you don't already.. make a schedule of when to talk if he's (or you) are going to be very busy because you want to maintain that connection.. and just keep talking about anything and everything like you do in a close distance relationship. Make a countdown as soon as you have the date you will be reunited, or even use an estimated date and then you can see the dates go down quicker.

Go check out the LFAD things to do page or the forum section for lots of ideas.

But in the mean time, you have still a few months before he leaves, so enjoy your time together. And then when you have to do long distance, just keep in touch, trust each other, be honest with each other, love each other, respect each other, make time for each other.

Good luck and stay strong!!

[Unconditional]

Communication is key. Communication is like water to a flower, if you never water it, it will shrivel up and die.
Don't be afraid, and don't over think, that's the worst thing you can do in an LDR, it'll just stress you out.
How do you make it work? Well, hard to say on that part-you just do. You carry on, stay faithful, earn patience, and overall you just have to make it work. If you're both committed, it'll work out.
LDRs are hard, but as I'm sure you've seen from this site, they are NOT impossible.
Wish you the best of luck to the both of you. I'm sure there's lots on this site to help you through the many questions you have ^-^

[Noodle]

Yes, communication is what makes any relationship alive. But the good news is that you know it's only going to be a year. So at least you have a finish line. A lot of ldr take several years to be together again. They are the inspiration so if they make it work, yours will work out =D

But yeah, enjoy the time you have now and a year will go by just like that. And as the above posters said, this community can be a lot of help! Good luck~

[BlueCat]

Hi there

Firstly, stay positive! Staying positive and continuing on with other aspects of life in as normal way as possible are key. You need to make time to talk and communicate, but obsessing about when you get to talk or about what's going on are just going to drag you down. Believe me, I know.

Secondly, I think long distance relationships work out almost just as often as regular relationships, it's just that you tend to only hear about the bad ones.

[Bobbiejeanne]

Welcome to LFAD!!

You have definitely come to the right place to assuage your fears. This is completely 110% doable as long as both you and your SO are willing to put the effort in.

You have a end date, so counting down might help you get excited. Maybe a plan a trip to visit one another when you both have some time, and TALK! Whether it's a silly text message, a snapchat "selfie", or a nice long chat on skype, as long as you are communicating, your relationship will run as smoothly as an CD relationship.
And, hey! You know what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

[AussieAmericanGirl66]

Welcome! You have come to the right place. This is a great supporting community for couples from all over the world with LDR.

Atleast you are both in the US, and really not so far away that you can't visit each other. It's only about 7 hours drive. And I know for a fact you would love VB! I lived there most of my life, and still visit frequently. Also it helps that you are both in the same time zone. That will make it easier to plan communication.

Just enjoy the time you have together at this point, stay in the NOW. When the time comes for the LDR to officially begin, keep yourself busy and happy, plan time for yourself when he isn't available. Stay in touch with him as much as you can, Facebook chat, Messenger, Skype, whatever your favorite technology might be. Send gifts to each other. Take advantage of the Love Letter on the 10th of the month (read the thread on that on this site), be spontaneous and enjoy each other.

My SO and I are having fun sending photos to each other via Messenger, since I got a new phone that allows me to send photos directly to our Facebook inbox. Even with an international LDR, and him 15 hours ahead of me, we stay in touch as much as we can, and chat several times a week, Skype at least once a month. It is doable. Bottom line is LOVE finds a way.