by Meg Stivison.

When my parents started dating, they lived a few states away from each other. They’d see each other about once a month, but most of the time they mailed long letters back and forth. Although they now have boxes full of romantic letters, that kind of delayed communication can put quite a strain on a relationship.

Even with modern communications like e-mail and text-messaging, long distance relationships take work. After dating my boyfriend for almost two years, I took a one-year contract to work in another country. I know this isn’t the decision everyone would make, but it was the right choice for us. We both had great opportunities in our respective fields, and there was a definite endpoint in sight. We counted down the months until we’d be back in the same time zone.

While we were apart, we’d try to meet online (in the early morning for one of us and the late evening for the other) to play World of WarCraft. It might sound a bit silly to prioritize online gaming this way, but our twilight WoW adventures provided instant communication as well as a hobby we both enjoy. Distance often causes couples to drift apart, so it was important to have something that we were both doing, at the same time, even though we were different continents.

Participating in a hobby together also made our phone conversations more than each reciting the week’s activities in turn. Even if you haven’t seen your partner in weeks or months, playing together in real time brings an immediacy and a connection into the relationship.

This is not only for computer nerds. Yahoo! Chess or internet word games could also be a way to relax with your long-distance love, especially if you can chat as you play. Whether you compete or cooperate, a few sentences of instant in-game banter can help distant partners connect.

Even without distance, MMORPGs can aid a relationship. Computer gaming is a great hobby for couples, whether you’re across the room or across the country. What could be better than playing a game with your sweetheart?

About the author: Meg Stivison is a freelance writer in western Massachusetts. She draws on her experience working for a local dating service. She met her partner through their shared love of Roman history and computer strategy games, and she tries hard to overlook his terrible taste in music. Here’s The link to Meg Stivison’s Blog Site