How to Use Technology to Maintain a Long Distance Friendship

When a close friendship suffers through moving pains, it takes commitment for the relationship to flourish and thrive. Here are a few ways to keep the friend close.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. With home phones, work phones, mobile phones, snail mail and email, there is a vast array of communication devices available. Low cost long distance or free minutes and weekends make it affordable to keep in touch. My network of friends shares the same mobile carrier network.

2. Utilize voice over Internet carriers. Call anyone in the network for pennies a month.

3. Use the many Internet-based travel agencies to plan vacations together or arrange layovers during business travel.

4. Send spontaneous gifts. Send cards via email, funny videos or scan articles from a magazine. Most retailers sell online and you can browse, buy and send almost any gift.

5. Go to dinner together 3,000 miles away. Arrange a time and take your mobile phone. While you eat, talk as if you’re sitting together. If you like the same TV show, watch it together via phone.

6. Invest in video over the internet cameras or laptops with embedded video cameras. These can be found at any electronics store. And you can see each other while talking voice over internet.