Growing up a military brat, distance at some point in a relationship was normal to me. It wasn’t until I was around 13 that I realized that most people don’t spend nine plus months apart from each other. Weird. This was normal to me though, my dad deployed or would go TDY, and so would my friend’s parents. This was all I’d ever known.
My homeboy and I are doing the long distance thing. But he’s not my boyfriend. We decided not to put a label on it until we’re in the same country again, and I’m totally okay with that. You see, he’s a marine and he’s currently stationed in my hometown, Okinawa, Japan.
We know what we are to each other and that’s really all that matters to me. Although I’m writing this article about our relationship, I think our business is ours. As long as we know what’s going on that’s all that matters. Although it is difficult being so far apart, especially when I see people with a significant other that is close, he makes the distance easy. It is so hard not being together but I’m willing to wait because I think that he’s worth it. I like our relationship, its casual but it means a lot. Not only is he my homeboy, but he’s my bro too. He is easily the best man that I have ever been in a relationship with. He doesn’t get jealous, he’s always there to make me smile, he’s supportive, he’s levelheaded, he makes me laugh, he’s kind.
When people learn I’m doing distance they give me a strange look, almost pity, and say almost skeptically that they, “hope it works out." That alone is almost enough to be exhausting. Although tough at times, I’ve seen it work, it’s all I grew up around. I have no idea what the future holds, and I’m totally okay with just living life right now and going where it takes me. I’m not looking to settle down anytime soon, but I don’t mind doing the distance thing because I know that it can work and I know how much he means to me.
