Living in different cities doesn't have to mean the end of a friendship. With a little effort, long distance friendships can be fun and rewarding.

Advances in technology have made it easier than ever to keep in touch with friends and family who live in different cities, states or overseas. There are many ways to maintain a long distance friendship, even when regular conversation isn’t possible.

Phone Calls, Email and the Internet

Long distance phone calls can be expensive. If there is the likelihood of regular long distance calls to a particular area, check with various telephone carriers for special deals. If both parties have the same carrier, it is often possible to have minimal call charges despite a significant distance.

To avoid developing a close and abiding relationship with a friend’s answering machine, plan phone calls in the same way that a morning tea visit would be planned. Set a day and time when both people will be home and set aside a reasonable amount of time to talk.

Email allows regular updates without having to co-ordinate times for both parties to be available. A few quick emails each week can help fill in the little details that friends who chat regularly usually share.

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace make it easy to keep in touch with friends and share news, photos and general information.

Common Interests

Friendships are often started and strengthened by the bond of shared experiences and interests. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of a long distance friendship.

Consider joining an online forum together. This may be for a shared hobby or interest, such as a book club or craft, or simply a forum such as Busy Mothers, catering for a more general interest or life stage.

Thinking of You Gifts

Receiving small unexpected gifts is a pleasant surprise, however regularly sending items by post can become expensive not to mention the hassle of getting to a post office and organising a parcel.

If purchasing gifts online, many businesses offer a gift wrapping service and can bill to one address and deliver to a separate address.

An occasional book, CD or DVD is easy to post and not too expensive. Other novelty gifts such as quirky stationery items, articles from magazines, and trinkets such as key rings or fridge magnets are all easy ways to let someone know that they are still remembered.

Special Memories and Friendship Fun

Another difficult aspect of long distance friendships is maintaining a sense of spontaneity. Spur of the moment trips to the movies or a coffee shop aren’t possible, but it is still possible to keep that sense of fun alive.

Have a movie night where both people hire the same movie to watch. Call each other to chat during the ad breaks or after the movie, depending on what works best with the phone charges. Sending text messages can work well in this situation.

Have an item that is regularly posted back and forward. This should be something light, compact and not too valuable. It could be something as simple as a photo or scarf. If living in opposite climates, it could be a scarf, shirt or skirt that will only be suitable for one person to wear. It can then be forwarded to the other person when the seasons change.

Start up a new habit, such as sending funny cards or postcards to each other regularly or posting nonsense items at unexpected intervals. There are many e-card sites on the Internet where funny, sentimental or quirky cards can be sent regularly at no cost.

All good friendships take some effort to maintain. With a little thought, it is possible to keep in touch regularly with friends all over the world.