Re: Girls
Not to get sappy or nostalgic, but my wife and I are an atypical case compared to many; maybe it will aide you in your decision(s):
We started dating when I was a senior in high school (we were each others' first boyfriend/girlfriend), which meant that I had already chosen to attend college...in Indiana. She had one year of high school left, and then attended college near Philadelphia. With both my family AND girlfriend living in New Jersey, that meant that I would only be home MAYBE every 3 months, and then only for any long stretches during Christmas break and during the summer.
Before I left for college, we had a serious talk; we both said we wanted to try to make the relationship work for the long-haul (which, for the next year, just meant "college"). Daily phone calls, cards, occasional bouquets of flowers, Skype...they all made it easier, but nothing replaces physically having your significant other present. Trips home (driven or flown) were paid out-of-pocket, or were given to me as gifts for holidays or my birthday).
After about a year, we decided that, although difficult, we wanted to continue our long-distance relationship, and eventually get married. The entire four years I was away, it was hard work. There were times I got caught up in my studies, my work, etc. and lost the focus and emphasis I should have put on my relationship…fortunately, she had grace and, over time, was able to forgive me.
She studied a semester abroad in Spain her senior year, which wasn't as hard as it would have been since we were already used to being apart…the hours or contacting each other just changed.
In 2009, I graduated and returned home; the future-Mrs was still in college, and planned to pursue her Masters in Education. We planned to marry after she got all that out of the way (and, in the mean-time, we could both work to put away as much money as possible). We got engaged in the end of December, 2011 and married on August 11th, 2012.
Now, I'm in full-time corporate A/V, and the schedule is rather crazy at times. My wife is an elementary school teacher, and her daily schedule is fairly set-in-stone. We managed to make it work, and Christmas-time and summertime are both slow times for both of our industries, so it works out nicely. We both do what we love and - although it can be a friction point due to the differences in schedules - we support each other in our chosen professions (I really enjoy grading papers, creating interesting projects for her students, and fixing things in her classroom).
It IS possible to make it work…but you both have to want it and you both have to be "all in".
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. ;-)
