As we get older, everyone starts going off to college and moving away from their hometowns, and more and more of your friends seem to become long distance. Long distance friendships can be really hard to maintain, but can also be really important and rewarding. My best friend lives in Germany while I go to school in Ohio, but if you're like us, you are determined to make the relationship last a lifetime. If your friends are really important to you, the distance shouldn't matter. As Spongebob and Patrick can attest, friendships can make everything better.

1. When you and your best friend face the idea of separation, and you cannot imagine daily life without them.

But who will I spend every waking moment with then?

2. You share in each others success and happiness, and always show your support, even if it's not in person.

3. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. When you haven't seen your friend in weeks or months, all you think about are the good memories.

4. When your friend is actually able to visit, everything has to be perfect. Every minute has to count.

5. As you don't get to show off your friendship in person, you end up showing it off on social media. Instagram becomes filled with #missingyou pics.

And you make sure to keep your snapchat streak going strong.

6. Sometimes being separated from your best friend just sucks, and there is nothing that will make it better.

Pencil in that monthly hour long crying fest over the phone.

7. If you're in different time zones, its hard to find time to talk that works for you both, so you end up staying up super late or getting up really early.

Ready for my weekly 3 AM FaceTime call.

8. And the most frustrating thing is when Facetime and Skype stop working.

9. You are constantly sending each other your inside jokes and making each other laugh. You always have that person who gets you, even if they're miles and oceans away.

10. When you get into fights it can be particularly hard to resolve, as you can't hash things out together in person.

When you are able to communicate and work through things though, you know your friendship is built to last.

11. Honestly, friends keep us sane in this crazy world, and when you actually take the time to just remind them how much you care, it makes a difference.

I love you man. Forever and ever.

12. No matter the distance, no matter the life experience, you know that you both are in this friendship for life.