Summer has come and it has been long awaited. We are all finally home, but, at this point, we are also probably realizing that our definitions of home have changed. If you're anything like me, you've gotten very used to living with your favorite people. This is a list for those who have suddenly become a part of several serious long-distance friendships.
1. Your group chat no longer makes sense.
You tell your best friends everything. That includes all of the nonsensical thoughts that you have had throughout the day. When you lived together, you could do this in person and save the group chat for important things like screenshots and event planning. Now, every ridiculous thought that you have goes straight into your group chat, making it read like the world's worst post-modern poetry.
2. Snap streaks become easy to maintain.
Not that you've ever really had trouble maintaining your snap streaks, but at this point there's no way that you could break them. Snapchat is a necessity to your way of life. You used to have to put effort into snapping someone who you spent every moment of your life with because they saw everything in real time. Now, you have to snap them hundreds of times because how can you live without seeing their face and making sure that no one is having too much fun without you?
3. You're excited to check the mail.
You're suddenly seeing the use for snail mail. You saw a bottle of lotion at target the other day in their favorite scent. What if they don't see it at their target? You practically have to buy it and mail it to them. Also, handwritten letters are the cutest gift that you could possibly give.
4. Everything reminds you of your best friends.
The tile in this restaurant is their favorite color. You should probably send them a picture.
5. Skype never works.
You have Skype dates galore and while they're great in theory, no one's internet is quite good enough to sustain a call without weird lagging. You can't hear anything anyone is saying and there's always at least one person who can't seem to get on the call. However, fear not, even though no one can tell what's going on, this call is still going to last three hours.
6. You make plans that are never going to happen.
It would be really cool if you all somehow met up and drove all the way across the country. Never mind the fact that none of you have any money, this is still a cool idea. Even though you all know that these plans will never actually pan out, you still talk about them because thinking about doing awesome things with your friends is only second to actually doing them.
7. You learn how to be independent.
You're used to having someone to cry to every time when things get difficult. They're still there for you, but you are all on different schedules now. There are bound to be times when you are in a crisis and there's no one around to help you. Somehow, you end up making it by yourself. Your friends have prepared you well.
8. You make TV related phone calls.
A new season of "Orange is the New Black" was just released and you had better believe that you're going to need someone to freak out with while you binge the whole thing in a day.
9. You've never been so excited to see someone.
Occasionally, you end up making plans that actually work. You probably have countdowns on your phone for weeks leading up to the trip. When you get the first glimpse, you feel like you've seen an angel. At that moment, there's no one else in the entire world who you would rather see. Even if you just end up sitting on a couch and watching movies, you're having the time of your life.
10. You develop a high road trip tolerance.
You hate driving, especially on the interstate. However, somehow the anticipation causes a two hour drive to seem like 20 minutes. You don't even care how far you have to drive, anything is worth reuniting you with your platonic soulmate.
11. You love them even more than when you left.
You really didn't think that it was possible, but distance really does make the heart grow fonder. When you're finally reunited you feel super clingy, but you just don't want to be without them again. You definitely no longer take having them in your daily life for granted.
