People all want different things out of a relationship. Some want a daily companion--a person with whom to talk and cuddle every day when they get home from work, a person to share responsibilities like walking the dog or running to the grocery store at the last minute, and a person with whom to enjoy physical intimacy as much as they might like. Other people would like this if it were possible, but feel that more than anything, it is important to have the right partner--even their soulmate. If that person doesn't happen to be there every day, he or she is still the right partner, no matter what.

Long Distance Relationships Can Start Online

More and more, people are entering into long distance relationships due to internet dating. Most sites give you the option to search within whatever radius you choose. Chances are if you enter something greater than fifty miles, you're going to end up with a fascinating and exciting prospect who lives far enough away that you'd have to do some traveling in order to see each other.

Some couples really like the pace of getting to know each other in a long distance relationship. They feel as though their bond intensifies because they rely so much on communication. Couples who want to wait to explore physical intimacy tend to be happy with this arrangement because it helps them avoid being precipitous and places a premium on emotional closeness. Really busy people (think investment bankers who are just starting out, medical students, or other unfortunate souls with 80-100 hour work weeks) tend to think it's great to have a relationship with the expectation that they'll only see each other in person once or twice a month. These people want to give a partner their full attention, and find that a partner who could just pop over for dinner or coffee tends not to understand when the answer is almost always, "Sorry, honey--not today."

That being said, be careful if you enter into a relationship online assuming that it will remain a long distance relationship for a specific or indefinite period of time. Both parties may genuinely think that they want this at first, but if a deep affection and connection evolves, it's very likely that intentions will change. It's great if they change for both of you, but very little would be sadder than being told by your partner that he or she still has no intention of altering the arrangement when you had had the happy revelation that you should move to be close to one another.