All of my IRL friendships are based around activities - we play games together, we volunteer together, etc. When someone moves away and we try to keep the friendship going, it always just sputters out after a few weeks or months. It just seems to devolve into small-talk / catch-ups that neither of us are really interested in (I don’t mind small-talk too much, but it can’t be 100% of any meaningful relationship).

So: What is the point of a long-distance friendship for two people who have no plans to live locally again? What am I missing?

EDIT: I have close conversations in person that are deep and meaningful, just very rarely over text. Maybe I ought to phone or video call once in a while…

  • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
    5·
    18 days ago

    You can probably still be emotionally attached to someone, even if they’re not around anymore? I suppose there isn’t a point like in they’ll join you at going to the bar or help you redo the kitchen… But there are other things in life and we’re social creatures. We also like to talk, or just have someone who cares for us. Even more so if you spent some time of your lives together at some point.

    • Worx@lemmynsfw.comOPEnglish
      2·
      17 days ago

      You can probably still be emotionally attached to someone, even if they’re not around anymore?

      I can be, and I would like to be, but it never seems to work out that way… Part of my question is to work out what other people do and what I’m doing wrong.

      • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
        2·
        17 days ago

        I’m bad at it, too. So I’m not sure if I’m the correct person giving advice. What I’ve observed is, successful people just do it. Idk, randomly seek contact every now and then. Or have a ritual, that seems to help. Make it a habit to call someone for their birthday. Or write some christmas cards. That’s some obvious things people do.