Romantic relationships are different for every person, but almost every relationship can be put into the categories of a long distance and short distance relationship. In a long distance relationship most couples will talk to each other through text, Facetime or other video chat services, and maybe meet up once in a while; in a short distance relationship, a couple will mainly talk in person, go on dates, spend a lot of time with each other and talk through text when they are not with each other.
Two people currently in a short distance relationship, John and Abby, have talked about what their experience is in that relationship. John and Abby both agree that their relationship is based mainly upon the time they spend together. They feel that their relationship is based on proximity, and their relationship would have been different if they didn’t live close to each other.
They said, “We would probably have never met and would probably have ended up in different relationships with someone else.”
They also feel that their relationship would be different if it was a long distance relationship.
Abby said, “I feel that it would be very hard at first to get used to not being able to spend time with each other; we’d eventually figure it out, but it might eventually end because we couldn’t be with each other all the time.”
John’s perspective was, “It would suck not being able to spend time with each other, but I bet we would text and Facetime a lot more.”
As a couple currently in a long distance relationship, Selah and Atticus have talked about what their experience is in a long distance relationship. They said that they met in person at a camp over the summer, and later their friendship evolved into a relationship while apart from each other. Theirs would be different if they were in a close contact relationship.
Selah said,” I think our relationship would be a lot deeper and we’d feel a lot more comfortable around each other. It’s super easy to text someone and tell them how you feel, but it’s a lot harder to really talk to one another once you finally see each other in person again.”
Atticus said, “I feel like the relationship would be a lot more physical than it is currently if we were in a close contact relationship. We’d be a lot more comfortable with normal couple stuff like holding hands and cuddling.”
They feel that their relationship would be even more important and intimate with each other.
Selah said, “I would be completely overjoyed. It’s really hard for me when other people talk about how they get to see their boyfriend or girlfriend almost every day. I always find myself missing him, and wishing that I could be with him as often as most people get to be with their partners.”
Atticus said, “I would be so insanely happy. I miss her all the time and I wish that we were together more often”
In total the main differences between a close and long distance relationship is the amount of time spent together and how that time is spent. Close contact relationships are based on proximity and time spent with each other, and at least some people in them feel that it would be harder to be in a long distance relationship since they would not be able to spend as much time with each other. Couples in long distance relationships may spend more time messaging each other and feel it would be easier to be in a close contact relationship because they always want to see each other.
