4. Plan visits or reunions
Of course the best possible way to maintain friendships from afar is physically seeing each other when possible. This can be challenging to coordinate with different families’ schedules and budgets, but if we’re traveling near where one of our military friends lives, we coordinate to see them. We’ve also coordinated to meet “in the middle” in a fun or new location to get both a mini vacation and a reunion. Last year a meetup in Park City, Utah, provided an opportunity for outdoor fun, quality time with military friends, and the creation of new memories (like when we were chased by a moose!)
5. No matter what, you’ll pick up right where you left off!
We all know that keeping in touch with friends is often easier said than done, so don’t be hard on yourself if there are sometimes lags in communication. It is natural for friendships to take on a new form at a distance, and people may be going through different life phases.
One of my best military girlfriends moved to Hawaii, went through nursing school and had a baby all in a year and half. Needless to say her life was pretty hectic and she didn’t always have time to catch up. However, now that she has graduated and her life has regained a semblance of normalcy, we are able to talk at a regular cadence.
She recently thanked me and the other friends in our group for continuing to call, continuing to check in and never giving up on her. Even though she couldn’t always respond to or reciprocate our calls and texts, just knowing that we were thinking of her was the friendship reminder she needed to carry her through tougher times.
Distance forces you to work toward your friendships in a new way, but it’s work worth pursuing. No matter what, next time you see each other – or maybe when you’re neighbors again! – it will be like no time has passed and you’ll pick up right where you left off.
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