As someone whose idea of the perfect day is lying in bed and FaceTiming loved ones (okay, maybe with a gentle walk mixed in for variety), I should have excelled at being in a long-distance relationship. During the year that I lived in Austin while dating my partner in Los Angeles, however, I frequently found myself getting frustrated—not with the relationship itself, but with our inability to see each other more than once a month or so. Yes, I loved being in actual love for the first time, and yes, it was fun to have someone to daydream about in absentia, but at a certain point, the old “What did you have for lunch today?” text query started to feel old.
My long-distance relationship turned into an in-person one when I moved to LA last year, but for anyone looking for ways to make their LDR at least more IRL, I’ve rounded up a few tips and tricks. Below, five long-distane date ideas to test out with your partner. Watch the same movie at the same time You probably remember this move from the quarantine phase of the COVID pandemic (I once spent an extremely entertaining and, in retrospect, slightly sad evening streaming with my besties across three different state lines), but simulcasting a favorite film with your long-distance partner can make you feel like you’ve seen each other, even if it’s actually been weeks or months since you were in the same room.
Personally, I’d opt for a thoughtful-yet-funny favorite like but when in doubt, go Pixar. (It’s a cliche fo.