My husband and I have been married for 27 years.

Two years ago he took a job in Hong Kong. During those two years he lived overseas. We saw each other about six or seven times in two years.

What I Learned Having A Long Distance Marriage For The Past Two Years

FaceTime makes long distance relationships easier.

Honestly, without it, I don’t think I would have survived. We started out speaking twice a day, morning and night, but after the first year it went down to once a day for about ninety minutes.

When push comes to shove I can do things I dislike.

That includes dealing with the huge millipedes that live in our basement. UGH! I HATE those things!

Having good neighbours is a blessing.

We’ve known this for a long time but it was extra important when I needed a bit of expertise to repair a vent on the outside of the house or shovel the driveway in winter.

Living alone can be scary.

Not just for the sounds that go bump in the night, but for when you trip on your vacuum cleaner and fall down the stairs. There is no one there to help you up or call an ambulance if needed.

I also had a choking scare. I’ve heard of far too many people choking and dying on their own.

You may think I sound like an anxious person but neither of these things worried me until after I’d experienced them while living alone.

Life is better shared.

Experiences alone are not the same as experiences shared.

I’m an independent person and have travelled on my own and lived alone however I much prefer having a partner. (Even if that means I need extra heavy duty ear plugs for sleeping.)

Time Cannot Be Bought

I’m no longer 22, I’m 52 and I see time passing more quickly with each passing year. I feel pressure to make good use of our health and abilities when we’re still able.  This is the time to do it…if not now, when?

Two Years Is Enough

When the decision was made for Robert to move overseas we gave ourselves a time limit of two years. We are exactly at the two year point. Beyond that length of time and we felt we’d risk becoming too accustomed to our separate lives. Relationship connections require effort and physical presence otherwise their value diminishes.

Do you think you could handle a long distance marriage?

 

 

Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday