It’s inevitable in the military community that you will be spending time away from your spouse.
Deployments, schools, TAD assignments, unaccompanied orders, geo-bachelor living situations; all of these things make dating and romancing your spouse a little bit harder than if you were able to just make a 7 o’clock reservation at your favorite restaurant.
But that doesn’t mean you CAN’T date your spouse while they are away. You just need to get a little more creative!
Here are a few ways to keep date night alive no matter the distance…
1. Netflix
God bless technology! I don’t know HOW MANY Friday night dates I have been able to have with my husband thanks to Netflix.
While we are stationed 500 miles apart, we make time once a month to sit down at the same time and pick out the same movie on Netflix to watch; we either Skype or text through the whole thing.
I’d like to say we alternate who picks the movie, but to be honest he usually leaves it up to me.
I’m kind enough not to inflict sappy girl movies every time. (Just every other!)
2. Game night
Are you two big on game night? Guess what!? Technology to the rescue again! There are many websites now that offer you the chance to play online versions of your favorite board games.
You can find everything from monopoly to L.I.F.E. to battleship. A little healthy competition can always be fun!
3. Have your own book club
Maybe the two of you are big bookworms. Have your own little book club. Pick out a book both of you have been waiting to read or challenge each other to get out of your comfort zones with a completely new genera.
Agree to read a certain chapter or section each week and then spend some time every Sunday discussing the book.
I know not reading ahead can be as hard as not watching the next episode of your favorite show on Hulu. But just think about the book as another way to count down until homecoming. Each week’s reading brings you one week closer to your next first kiss!
4. Train for a race
If you’re an athletic couple, you can start training for a big race together. With all the programs that allow you to track your runs and workouts, it would be easy to sync up and get fit together.
Push each other for the extra mile. Make running playlists for the other to listen to as they train.
By the time your spouse gets home, you’ll be ready to lace up your sneakers and tackle the 5k, half marathon, fun-run or Spartan events with ease.
Nothing bonds a couple like 3.2 miles of muddy racing fun!
5. Start planning a trip
Most commands allow POM leave after big deployments. Why not get excited for that now?
Research places you want to visit, restaurants to try in a new city, the best hiking trails that stay within the out of bounds regulations your spouse has.
Not only will it give you some time to talk, it will also give you something to look forward to.
Of course if you start booking travel, remember the first rule of the military…nothing ever goes as planned! Make sure ALL plans are refundable or transferable just in case.
6. Share meals
Miss sharing meals with your honey? It will take a little research, but find a restaurant that will deliver to your partner.
I don’t mean your typical pizza or Chinese food either. I mean a REAL dining experience.
Have a romantic meal from miles away.
I understand this works best if you’re in the same time zone. I can’t imagine my husband wanting a four-course meal delivered for breakfast while he’s in Japan and I’m having dinner in the states. Still, give it a try!
7. Create a date-in-a-box
If you’re up for putting in a little more effort to make a date together you can create a date-in-a-box! Include everything you need for a night together…apart.
Recipes for dinner to be cooked together, a good bottle of wine, candles to be lit, music to play in the background of your Skype-shared dinner.
Don’t forget dessert! And if you know your wife is up for it, send a little something more comfortable for her to wear while you all enjoy your evening together.
You never know where that could lead….
So you see, no matter how far apart you might be there are ways to try and keep date night alive and well. You just need to think a little more outside the box!
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