I hear all the time about the disadvantages of having to deal with a long-distance military relationship, but has anyone talked about the benefits? You won't believe it, but there are some advantages!


For instance...
  • Avoiding weight gain b/c, as a couple, you can work out and eat better when you're together (it's a career matter, after all). Also, when apart, you want to keep down weight for when homecoming approaches!
  • You have less pressure to dress up daily (except when taking pics or making videos to send to your soldier); it's acceptable to wear comfy clothes 24/7!
  • Spontaneous conversations online or spontaneous phone calls keeps things from getting dull in the relationship. What's better than hearing your man's voice at 2 a.m.? Answer: Almost nothing because it can make your day!
  • You an come up with silly online games to play (for example: online scavenger hunt to solve a puzzle) or lots of questions to ask each other.
  • Trip planning is that much more fun b/c w/ being apart you know that little bit of time together matters so much! For example, our trip to Orlando has been fun to plan, and we've only just started saving up
  • Discover new interests together-apart (TV shows, books, etc.). Steve has been reading a lot more lately, for example, and some of the series he likes I'm going to read so we can talk about the books together!
Can you think of any other advantage to a long-distance military relationship? Share them in the comments section!
 


Comments

Samantha

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 5:22:11 pm

No physical relationship can lead to you actually getting to know the other person.

Deployments lead to a bond with your partner that most couples will never have. After all, you've been the one there for the soldier and the one he/she can count on.

Hoping Skype doesn't drop your call when you are discussing something important...ok, that's not a benefit, lol.

Actually writing to each other! What couple writes to each other anymore? And I don't mean texting or tweeting. The written word can be a pretty powerful thing. I've gotten so many emails from Pat, many of them I have saved or were very special to me.

 

Heather

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 8:09:41 am

Emails are fine, I guess... but the thing that really keeps me going is getting an actual letter in the mail from him or just writing him myself. It takes so much more time and energy to actually write then to just shoot off a quick email. Plus, its a piece of Mark I can hold in my hands and feel close to when I'm missing him.

 

Megan

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 8:57:08 pm

I would probably faint if Steve sent me a letter haha. It's just not his style. I've asked for them and it's hard enough to get him to email pics, much less write to me, but there's only so much one can ask before someone stops responding, you know? Plus, w/ him being in S. Korea at the moment he doesn't feel as compelled to letter write, I guess, because we do talk quite often.

I definitely know how you feel about having something tangible, like a letter. The flowers I got on my birthday and Valentine's Day from Steve were some really great gifts I'll never forget. Perhaps at some point letters will be the norm for us, but I'll take what I can get :)

 



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