Long distance relationship

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2006
Long distance relationship
5
Tue, 06-20-2006 - 11:58pm
My boyfriend of 1 year recently got a job in NY and moved away from California. We decided to stay together and see what happens and it's been okay so far. But as you can imagine, I miss him dearly and it makes me sad when mentions that he is home sick and alone.
I want him to take advantage of living in NYC and go do things and make friends and make the most of it. Does anyone have any ideas on things I can do to reach out to him to ease his homesickness? I send him emails and we talk on the phone all the time, but I'm looking for little fun surprise ideas i can send to him via snail mail...but I don't know what I should do! ideas on small gestures that might make him smile and think of me would be appreciated...thanks :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 12:45am

Small surprises and gifts that will make him happy are pretty much subject to individual preference, you know? But maybe I can offer you a few ideas that will get your thoughts rolling in a direction that will work for you (and him). I would consider small things I know he likes, they don't have to be expensive and don't have to be exclusive to your area to be appreciated and put a smile on his face. Take a trip through the grocery store, does he like Oreos? Some silly kid cereal? Pick some up. Wander through all the sections and see if you can't find non-food items that work too; a magazine, some silly cheapy kid toys, a hula girl dash ornament... you get the idea. Burn some songs that you know he likes on a CD, or maybe put together a CD burned with songs that mean something to the two of you, or are songs that make you think of him. A gift certificate to a video store or Netflix? Even silly things that are reminiscent of something the two of you did -- a shell with a note remembering a trip you took to the beach (or a leaf or flower for a mountain trip, park or picnic), a funny book from a book store? Maybe a "things to do and see in NY" book?


That's all I can think of off the top of my head, hopefully it'll get you started!


Another board that you'll probably want to check out is
Long-Distance Relationships

Good luck!







~ cl-2nd_life

"Experience is what you get
when you don't get what you want."

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"Ignoring the facts
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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2005
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 10:08am
I'm in an LDR too.
I make CDs with our favorite songs for him. I've sent him brownies too. You could also videotape sites from home, changes, etc. and send that (I've never done that though... we're only 2 hours apart...but it sounds like a good idea LOL).
Bec
"People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abe Lincoln

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2006
Wed, 06-21-2006 - 4:56pm
I used to be in a bi-coastal relationship too (cali and DC). We burned CDs for each other, wrote letters, sent cards, etc. I sent him rice krispie treats a couple times. Do you have a digital camera? Take some naughty/sexy pictures of yourself wearing lingerie and email him with a subject line that he should view when he's alone. He loved that! Only drawback is if you break up, you've got to trust that he won't post them online or do anything crazy with those pictures...
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-12-2006
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 11:24pm

I've done the LDR thing with two different people so here are a few ideas that hepled me out:

-Make a schedule for phone calls and visits. It gives you some semblance of a normal relationship feel and makes it a lot easier to make sure you have time for each other. We have two days with set "date times" and we know not to schedule anything else for those times and at least have a brief conversation.

-Spontaneous "Missing You" cards are also fun ways to keep each other thinking about the other one. You can find some pretty cute ones.

-Come up with a code for missing each other moments. Even if it's in the middle of a work day or the middle of the night and can't actually talk a little digital reminder beyond the typical "I miss you" email is kind of fun.

-Halfway box. This is better for a one time long separation, but the idea came from my Navy bf. The sub community does this for each deployment. The sailors wives/gfs/families make a box full of favorite snacks, pictures, letters, anything to remind them of home, and on the halfway night of the cruise they have a little party where all the guys open their boxes and have stuff from home instead of submarine stuff for a change.

-If you weren't ready to be as risky as sending naughty pics of yourself, you can also just have a friend take a few pics of you at old places you and your bf have memories. We had a bench where we used to talk a lot, so I took a picture of myself sittin gon the bench to send to my bf.

-Finally text messages are God's gift to LDRs. Tey're quick, simple, and non intrusive and make it so easy to share a silly random moment that doesn't warrant a phone call in the middle of a work day, but can keep you in touch with the little things in each others lives.

I hope this helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2006
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 11:42pm
Thank you, this helps a lot!