My boyfriend and I were long distance for the first year and a half of our relationship, and weirdly enough, now that we live together, I actually miss those times! You are not encumbered by daily BS, all you have to concentrate on is romance!!

Here are a few tips:

- get a webcam! We made as much time as possible to be together on webcam. Even if one of us was busy, we'd just be connected and see each other doing our thing. No need to be all focused on having a conversation or entertaining each other, you just watch each other live your life a few hours a day. I would even do it at work!! You get to share daily things and events as they unfold, that way, too! And we slept together on webcam EVERY NIGHT. We would put our laptops on a stool by the bed, and fall asleep together. My friends made fun of me A LOT for that, but it was lovely to wake up together every morning (and we had a 6 hour time difference... so some adjustments and efforts, and waking up in the middle of the night, were sometimes necessary!)

- download your favorite TV shows, and watch them together. Yes, still on webcam. That way you get to laugh at the same moments, comment on what's going on, and it gives you something to share.

- chat, chat, chat! We would chat on messenger programs all day. From work, from home, from friends' parties... just saying hi, telling each other about an anecdote that just happened, or a piece of news we'd just read in the papers... it keeps the relationship interesting, because when you're suddenly on the phone and you have to remember all the things you want to tell him in a 20-minute conversation, it's just not as natural. In writing, as it's happening, it's much more authentic!

- webcam sex! That's all I'll say about it, but you get my drift.

- Yes, we even had dinner dates on WEBCAM!! We'd agree on what to eat, and buy the same thing, and cook it at the same time, and settle down in front of our screens with our plates - with the same food! And a glass of wine!

- Make plans. Yes, this one's got nothing to do with webcams, but I'm sure you got the gist of what that great gizmo can do for you - find your own ways to use it and you'll see how it can compensate a whole lot for the physical absence. But making plans for the future is very important - planning a weekend a few weeks away, or a nice vacation, or the activities you'll have when you visit him or he visits you, makes you connected to what's to look forward to. Browse online for fun museums, amusement parks, places to picnic, movies coming out... etc and make a bunch of dates!

- Send pictures and videos and even audio via email or txt. Find websites where you can do interactive things together - draw, play games, be creative... etc

The problem with LDRs is the feeling of disconnection from the other person's daily life. You're not involved in what's going and it makes you feel alienated. You also have more trouble understanding when they're not available... etc - so be a bit more tolerant of the moments you can't have him to yourself. Giving him his freedom will make him want to spend time with you. And get creative to keep in touch as much as possible - Summarizing a day on the phone can be awkward; but if you find ways to keep that connection, thanks to the web, chat programs, webcams, little phone calls throughout the day, text messages, pictures... etc, then you will feel like a part of each other's life, and it really helps.

Seriously, now that we're in each other's face all the time, we don't do 10% of those things together anymore, and it's actually way less fun. So take it as something positive, a challenge, and if you both put in the effort, it's such a wonderful way to prove how much you care about each other. Fun work!

Anyway, good luck, and don't stress it too much. You guys obviously really love each other, and 6 months will never kill that.

good advice from karlotta. I was long distance at first with my hubby but he is a pilot, so we saw each other all the time. Another one of my friends married a guy she met at an army base in germany while visiting her sister. So YES! ldrs can work out. I hope it does for you!

I'm in one right now, and I've been in one before - don't panic!!! It can be wonderful and can really build on your relationship, believe it or not. I refused to do them before and actually, I think they're pretty healthy as long as both people are on the same page about it. First of all - 6 months is nothing!! I promise it will fly by. Of course you'll miss him, but the conversations and visits you two will have will be magical and will only cement your need for one another. With my ex, we chatted via webcam 4-5 times a day, plus e-mails, and within the 9 months we were apart we had three visits (that was from NY to TX, so the time change was only an hour). With my current fellow, who lives overseas (yep, serious long distance - 5 hours time difference) we e-mail up to 10 times a day, chat once a day for 2-3 hours, and/ or talk on Skype - which is totally free - for a couple of hours a day. It doesn't have to be that much, we just both happen to have the time (and would make the time) and we're at the beginning of everything so it's more intense. I agree with Karlotta - make "dates" to eat, or do movie reviews together by each of you seeing a film and then discussing it. Take the opportunity to plan fun weekend breaks with him and do things you've never done before. LDRs can be so much fun and give you so many things that a day-to-day relationship can't. I also like mix CDs, cards, letters scented with perfume, games, etc... there are several forums on the web for LDRs with lots of tips - I suggest doing a Google search and finding ideas! Just be sure you and your guy are on the same page and that he understands these take a lot of communication and planning. But they're soooo fun!! good luck!

in the long run 6 months isn't very long. I would try to visit as much as possible if you can to make the time go by faster but as long as you communicate the same way you would it definitely is do-able.

long distance relationships are hard, but it seems like the two of you have your head on pretty straight and your relationship is solid.

use that time to start planning for things that you want in the future. get involved in activities that make you happy and keep you busy so you aren't sitting at home lonely and getting upset because he is away.

it's hard but i'm sure it'll be fine, and like you said him leaving for a few months is ultimately the best thing for your future so you just have to keep thinking of it that way.

I second all of the good advice given above. While my husband and I were dating, we had a LDR for about 2 years. One thing that I can definitely say helped was to make solid plans to see each other far in advance. It made it easier to know that I would be seeing him in 4 weeks, for sure, than to have an open whenever-we-get-the-chance kind of visit set up. Counting down until our visit made it easier to bear.

You sound like a really smart girl!

First of all I think you will be surprised how wonderful LDRs can be. Especially since this one is only short term. It sounds like a great point in your relationship to do this, too. You will more than likely see that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that "you cant miss someone if they never go away".

It sounds like he has two really good role models there for him, his friend and the friends fiance. And also since he's working 6 days a week you know he'll stay out of trouble. At least you wont have to worry.

You should consider going to visit him once or twice, and space out the visits. Also with the holidays coming up, any chance he'd be coming home for them anyways? Kayak.com has good cheap flights. Good luck and no worries

I have to agree with karlotta. I've never been in an LDR but my sister has and she swears by the webcam idea.

My fiance and I have been together for over 6 years. at the 4 year mark, I graduated college, received an great job offer 3.5 hours away, and I moved. he stayed to finish school (he had just started.) while we didn't live together first, and i was afraid, it has been a positive. We truly enjoy every moment we spend together when we see each other (about twice a month) we talk on phone all the time, multiple times a day. we got engaged recently. it sort of matured our romance from being a careful not to over do it to a can't get enough of each other sort of thing. it was hard, but so worth it becaues we really appreciate each other. it hasn't been easy, esp the last 6 months before he proposed as i was getting fed up with living alone, not seeing him enough, (he coudln't come visit too much until he graduated, then his orientation schedule at work had him working every weekend and that's when i am off) but now...i think that is why we are as strong as we are. it takes trust and love, and if you have that, you will be fine.

Great advice above!! The ex and I were at the same school for about 6 months, and then we were long distance for the rest of our relationship which was about 9 months. We always wanted to buy webcams but just never got around to it. It's a great idea though! And we always slept together too, just over the phone (we both had verizon, so it didn't cost any minutes anytime we talked). And of course we visited whenever we could.

I really really agree with karlotta that the main problem is not feeling connected to the other person or involved in their life. I hate that feeling so much. And the hardest thing in the world is when you have a fight about something, because then you both just don't talk or even see each other. There isn't that usual connection that can make everything better again, you HAVE to be able to talk it out without arguing. It's so easy to lose touch that way, b/c one of you might just not want to talk for a while, and that time just gets longer and you guys just stop connecting (yeah, I have experience.. ). And then when you make up, you can't even hug or kiss or anything, you just have to say sorry over the phone and go back to normal...it sucks. So my advice is just to work out any problems that come up right away. Even if you get mad, remember you love each other and that you should still stay in touch and talk.

The date ideas are really good too. My ex and I would actually both go out to a restaurant and talk on the phone and have a date like that. We would pick the same type of food, like I went to taco bell once, so he went to a mexican place. Yeah, I got some funny looks, just sitting there eating by myself on the phone, lol, and I guess I annoyed some people (I made sure I was quiet and polite though!!), but hey, it helped keep romance and love and connection in our relationship, so those annoyed people can suck it up, lol lol.

We also were both in college, so we sent care packages to each other. I got a big box from UPS and put all kinds of his favorite food in it, and I bought him some pants with the logo from the school I was at and just stuff like that. Getting and sending those boxes were always fun. We also sent actual letters in the mail, not email, because getting that actual piece of paper is just so much better than a quick, seemingly emotionless email. It's something that the person you love touched and spent the time to write out, you can see their handwriting, it makes it so personal and makes you feel more connected. You can also include little things with the letter, like chocolates or stickers, or anything cute or silly. And I would spray the letter with the perfume I normally wore, so it would smell like me when it got there. My ex also sent me flowers a couple times, he found a company and just ordered online.

Hope I gave you some more ideas!! Good luck and don't worry! You will be fine, y'all sound like you have a solid relationship going into this (ex and I didn't at all), so it will be over in no time. You actually might start enjoying having your day to do whatever you want!

Oh yeah, I second the "solid plans far in advance idea". It gives you something to look forward to and you get really excited. A couple days before one of us visited we would end up being like "48 hours until I visit you!!!" ....silence for a bit.... "omg, guess what now!? 47 hours until I visit you!!!" LOL LOL.

The saying "distance makes the heart grow fonder" definitly rings true. I was in a LDR for 2 years. We did'nt have webcams or fancy technology and we both had very busy lives. I wont lie there are some tough times ahead but in the long run, this experience is a great test to any relationship. We grew closer and stronger and are still together Good luck to you!

I was in a LDR for a little under 2 years and like a lot of the above advice states... WEBCAM everything! They really do help, and it's so so so nice to see one another in real time. Writing snail mail is also something that helped keep things going for us -- little surprises here and there.

Karlotta pretty much nailed it right on the head though. Take her advice and your LDR should be completely successful!

What is your biggest concern here? Is a little voice inside your head telling you something? It sounds to me like your boyfriend wanted you to stay put while he ventured out.

If you feel like he may cheat, or be looking for something new, or having his last hurrah without you, this takes serious consideration. Frankly, if he was as in love with you as you are with him, I don't think he would have the situation arranged the way it is. He would have proposed and taken you with him.

I know you asked for advice on making it work, but I think you're ignoring something inside you. Confront that and deal with it, and things will be better.

Luisa, you are SO pessimistic! Not EVERY man cheats and not EVERYTHING someone does has a hidden evil meaning. She didnt even say she doesnt feel comfortable with him leaving for any other reason besides she'll miss him, he's going with his friend and his friend's fiancee for goodness sakes! And honestly, would you leave your career because your man decided to go make some extra money somewhere else for 6 months?

OP, don't listen to her. Obviously you're making the best choice for yourself and for your relationship. I've never been in a long distance relationship but at least this will give you a chance to catch up on your alone time and as someone else said here, how can you miss someone if they never leave? I think you two will be fine as long as you communicate. Alot.

Here in BC there are TONS of construction guys that go and work on the rigs in Alberta or the Pipelines up north and are usually on working for 3 months and off for 6 months and they are usually all happily married. They go out of town, make a years worth of money in just 3 months and then take a 6month vacation to chill with the family, my dad did it when we were younger and now my brother does it. They all have happy successful relationships and I'm sure this will work out for the OP too.

Good luck

"Don't fall for someone who's not willing to catch you"

I didn't say he was cheating! Or even that he wanted to! I ASKED her if a little voice was telling her something. She's the one who's had conversations with him about this, and obviously something set off a red flag for her.

Yea, the red flag would be "My boyfriend is moving 18hours away for half of a year and I'm nervous because I've never had a long distance relationship before and I want reassurance from other people who have been in my situation and made their relationships work!"

If she had said she was nervous because he was going with some of his single buddies into a town where the women were hot and desperate I could see where you were coming from.

"Don't fall for someone who's not willing to catch you"

it's definitely a change knowing that you haven't been apart for more than a week but think about it - you know that he's going to be back in 6 months, and you know that you're going to be better off after he's back financially. i've had long distance relationships that have worked and i think that the key is to know that you're gong to talk some days and others you won't...but that doesn't mean that the other person is doing something that they shouldn't be doing. he's there for work - it's not like he's on a 6 month vacation - so you have to have faith that he's going to be a 'good boy'. i think that it's commendable that the friend's fiance is going to quit her job and go - but if you have a career that you like and a job that's good and that you really don't want to risk losing, then you're making the right choice for yourself - and he'll appreciate you more for standing your ground.

make plans with your friends while he's gone - go see family - and maybe take some girl only trips - and that will DEF help you pass the time faster.

My husband and I were long distance for the first 1 1/2 years of dating and we worked out great. We wold talk on the phone multiple times of the day. We both did our own thing and would talk first thing in the morning and right before bed. It made the day and it was always so special. Don't be mad if he calls late because he had to work late, just go to sleep and let the phone wake you up. We also IMed and would have texted if we had that then. We visited as much as possible. If you can take a vacation from your job then visit him for a week and that way you'll have something to look forward to. Karlotta had some good tips and I love the webcam idea. 6 months-1 year is not a long time if you really think about it and the payoff is amazing.