Having attended many summer programs, gone to sleep-away camp, and now moving on to college, I can easily say that a large bulk of my closest friends live in different cities or states. Though these friendships are unlike the typical ones, they are honestly some of the best I could ever ask for. Having friends all over has not only been an interesting experience, but definitely a rewarding one. Here are my reasons why long distance friendships are truly amazing.

1) Phone/Facetime dates

Though many miles apart, just seeing them through a screen or hearing their voice makes up for it all. Just because they can’t physically be by your side to hear about your day or laugh at something you want to tell them doesn’t mean they aren’t a quick phone or Facetime call away. Usually the little updates and intentionally short calls turn into multiple hour long Facetime dates that consume full nights, but its completely okay because it’s the little things that count.

2) Seeing each other is so much more special

Sure, it’d be amazing to get to see each other all the time, but having friends in different cities and states make the times you can see each other that much more meaningful. Not only do you get really excited to find out that its finally happening for the first time in a while, but the anticipation and build up until the day you’re reunited is incredible. Not to mention that first hug after many month apart, what an amazing feeling.

3) You have connections all over

Going on family vacations is so much nicer because you usually have a friend to visit no matter where you go. Having long distance friends also adds multiple destinations to a huge list of places you have to visit, because you should definitely see your friends, but you should also experience a totally new place.

4) The friendship is extremely genuine

There’s no doubt that relationships without physical contact and interaction are that much more difficult to maintain. Having to put in so much extra effort to keep these friendships growing based predominantly off of social media and technology shows how genuine they can truly be.

5) Their drama stays in their life, and yours stays in your life

Friends that you see all the time and go to school with are usually sucked into the drama of your day to day life because well, they live it too. While friends from other places can be there for you (and usually give the best advice in these cases), your lives stay separate enough that they’re not fully involved. When home life gets tough, they’re the best people to come to about it.

6) They’re always there for you

You can manage to live in different places, have completely separate lives, and still maintain a beautiful friendship. No matter what happens in life, these are the friends that will always be there for you.