Whether it's because of college, work, or your run-of-the-mill family move, everyone experiences a long distance friendship at some point in their life. The knee-jerk reaction is generally, Oh crap, what now? This situation is even more grueling when the friend in question is your best friend. I mean, this is the person you eat pizza and watch Hilary Duff movies with, the person who has their own seat on the couch and at the kitchen table, who has seen you at way too many low points and has stood by you while you soared to new heights.
Well, take a deep breath, sunshine, because it doesn't have to suck. In fact, it can actually be pretty cool having your best friend move to a new place.
1. FaceTime and Skype
Unless you've been living under a rock the past few years, you've probably heard of the wonderful 21st-century inventions known as video chats. Skype and FaceTime are definitely some of the most useful ways to keep in touch when your BFF moves. I'll be the first to admit that the service sucks sometimes, you never know when you'll experience "technical difficulties," and time zones have no regard for how badly you want to catch up, but it is 100 percent manageable. You both need to want it to work out, to put in the effort to maintain the friendship. It takes two to tango, my comrades, and if you're the one dropping the ball, perhaps you need to reconsider what kind of friend you actually are.
2. The Gossip
As much as my finer and more respectable companions love to say they don't, I've yet to meet a person who doesn't indulge in a gossip sesh every now and then. As long as it's harmless banter and not actually cruel, my motto's always been feel free to knock yourself out. It can be rather fun keeping your best friend up-to-date on who's hooking up with whom, how work and school have been, and sharing last weekend's wild adventures. As nice as it is for her to hear about how her old friends are doing, it's nice to hear about how she's doing and to learn about her new friends and stories.
3. You Have an Outsider's Opinion
It's always important to have a second person's opinion. Whether it's on a job offer, homework, or friends' drama, that outside opinion can keep you grounded and help you sort through your problems and decisions without getting swept up in the flurry. Your best friend, whose duty it is to always be there for you, has always helped. Now she has the added bonus of being separate from the situation and being able to give you clear-sighted advice without any biases.
4. The Reunion
We've all seen the airport reunion scenes (looking at you, Love Actually), and while not all of us sprint across the arrivals terminal in slow motion in a mixture of tears and laughter, there is something very romantic (but platonic) about finally seeing your loved ones after time apart. This is when you finally get a glimpse of the awesome, worldly person they've become, when you can show off the gorgeous new purse you've been gushing about for weeks, when you can tease each other and laugh excessively without the crappy pixelated screen you've been suffering through.
5. You Get to Visit Them
Let's get real, it's pretty awesome exploring new places. Whether it's Boston, LA, Tokyo, or even a few towns over, a new location is a realm of endless possibilities. Even if you've been there before, there's something incredibly unique about seeing your friend's new city through their eyes. There are restaurants, clubs, and hole-in-the-wall shops to discover that aren't listed on TripAdvisor, that you can't find without the help of a local. This, in my honest opinion, is the coolest part of having your BFF move. Think of it as taking one step closer to your eventual world domination. Hey, you've got to start somewhere.
I know that distance sucks and that friendships and relationships don't always hold up against it. It takes a lot of work and commitment, but if you both want it badly enough, go for it! In the wise words of our Lord and Savior, Hilary Duff, why not?
