How do you keep the spark in a long distance relationship or marriage?

Keeping the spark alive in any relationship requires the effort of both parties. It's the same in a long distance relationship. Long distance relationships used to be unusual, but not anymore. With world travel and technology on the increase, people have more opportunities to meet and communicate then ever before. Unfortunately, maintaining a long distance relationship is not always easy. The lack of private time together, coupled with different environments, experiences and cultures, can stress even the most loving of relationships. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep the spark alive when your lover is miles away. 1. Be talkative. No relationship will last long without regular communication. Pick up the phone everyday for at least 15 minutes and let your partner know that you miss them and you love them. Everyone loves this! 2. Use technology. Text, email or instant message your partner throughout the day, if your schedule and time differences allow. 3. Go Old Fashioned. Phone calls and emails are great, but there is nothing nicer than getting a hand written letter or card in the post. Use elegant stationary to make it even more special. 4. Send a personal gift. Put some thought and creativity together and send something personal. If you are sending flowers, make sure they are her favourite color, or perhaps put together a collection of their favourite music on CD and post it over. 5. Make a date. Even though you maybe miles apart, set a date. Is there a TV show that you both like to watch each week or a movie? Set a date to watch it together. Even though you are physically in the same room, you still are sharing the experience. 6. Send pictures. Invest in a digital camera so you can regularly send pictures of events you have attended and things you have done. This will make your partner feel they are not missing out so much on your days events. 7. Meet halfway. Nothing beats personal time together to recharge your relationship. If it is possible, you can meet halfway and that way share the travelling costs. Book a hotel or romantic B+B for the weekend. If only one person can do the travelling for visa reasons, make sure the travel costs are shared so one person is not always paying for the travel expenses! Long distance relationships can be challenging, but the extra effort required to nurture the relationship pays off in the end. By exercising a little creativity and making an effort to stay in touch regularly, your relationship will grow stronger.

For me Honesty is the key. Why lie when it comes to long distance. There is a great chance of getting caught at some point and that has only led to waste of time, energy and money. No one ever asks their partners to be a saint, but openness keeps the relationship on sure footing. A long distance relationship, like any relationship, must be nurtured. This must occur even if one or both partners enjoy the space and freedom that the distance creates for them. To really survive in a long distance relationship is to keep your partner closer to your heart than by their phone.

hmmmm....my bf and i are also far from each other but i take time to do something cute and cheesy for him and he also does. we do some stuff we dont expect but we know that each of us would love.

i have a long distance relationship also^^ but my bf i didnt meet him near me yet. is only online we know each other. but we talk since a year already. and we became lovers at one month and few days^^ what we do is talk almost everyday^^ we need to show that we care for each other^^ you can write him an email everyday, or a message to his facebook, also call to his cellphone once in awhile^^ if he is away from you to work im sure that he has a bit of free time to send you message to your email^^ he has to stop to eat lunch and dinner and also before go to bed^^ so he could send you an email everyday :) for now is better than nothing^^ he shouldnt be so many days without talk with you. you are married and are far and the truth is that temptations exist and to avoid like someone else care you need to feel the love almost everyday^^ so you should talk with him and both send a message big email everyday at least while he doesnt have much time and when he have talk with you through skype for example^^ both go online and chat with each other^^ or skype or yahoo or msn^^ that way you talk the hours you want and dont pay much^^