How to keep your friends close when they live far

When it comes to living in the 21st century, I can’t help but thank God for technology. Why? Because it keeps my relationships with my long-distance girlfriends right at my fingertips.

My girlfriends are my lifeline when I’m out shopping and need a second opinion, when I need a word of advice, or when I just want to chat about the various ongoings in my day to day.

But here’s the kicker. Well, the two kickers:

1. Distance (two being on the opposite coast, the others 5+ hour drives)
2. Life (and our individual non-stop schedules)

But these girls have been a part of my life through some significant chapters and because of that, I refuse to let the relationships die no matter the distance.

So how do I keep them close when they live far?

Marco Polo

Our busy schedules don’t always time well for FaceTime or phone calls. In fact, we’re mostly always on the go! And now with babies in some of my girlfriends’ lives, that means less phone time. In comes Marco Polo. True to its name (and if you’ve ever played it on a hot summer day in the pool), Marco Polo is similar to FaceTime but a video voicemail-like version. You get a notification when you’re receiving a Marco Polo and whenever you have time, you can watch it and respond.

Marco Polo has been a saving grace for my relationships! I tend to have a lot to say and not enough interest in typing it all up via text, so it’s allowed me to send my girls life updates with the smallest of details and for them to respond whenever they’re on their commute to work, getting ready for the day, or cooking dinner. It allows them to be a part of my every day. And that? That is everything to me when I can’t drive over to their house for a venting session.

The app is free to use, though they do have some premium features that you can pay for if interested (though I haven’t found the need to pay for those extra features).

Planning travel

I love to travel TO my girls and I love to travel WITH my girls. I also love and appreciate my husband and the men my girls have married because they encourage girl trips OR have joined us for several weekend getaways (looking at Gabe and Dario over here)!

Give us any excuse and we’ll find a way to get together. Chelan, WA; New York City, NY; Hilton Head or Greenville, SC; Denver, CO; San Diego, CA; and even San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I’ll never forget after leaving my last job in early 2024 when I took two weeks to go on a best friends tour, visiting three of my girlfriends who have known me through the significant chapters of life I mentioned above. I was in a low place, unsure of who I was anymore and each one took me in for 4-5 days, giving me the space to cry or laugh it out, reminding me of who I was because they’ve known me since I was 9, 14, and 24.

If that’s an option for you, it’s an option I will always recommend! Life is short, and there are cheap airlines out there that will take you to a joint location or straight to your people (and if not planes, then cars). And it doesn’t have to be for a week either! I’ve done 48 hour trips to see my girls when the need for each other is great. Book the trip, see your people.

Photo highlights + FaceTime calls

Does it feel like we’re spending less time posting full posts on social and more time sharing only on Instagram Story, or is that just me? The older I get, the less I find myself sharing posts for the sake of posting, and instead texting specific people the photo highlights of life.

One of my girlfriends is a beast at doing this and will send me shots of her hikes, ski days, and views. Another fills our chat with photos of her sweet girl, my goddaughter who I’m obsessed with.

Though we text daily, we’re also sending shots to each other throughout the day. And do I ever say “Good morning!” to start a chat? Absolutely not. These are ongoing continuous conversations that will end when we’re in heaven (well, at least the cellphone versions. Then we’ll just be yapping constantly like it’s no one’s business).

And when schedules align and time allows, you can bet your booty that we’re hopping on FaceTime calls to get caught up when we need each other or when we have big news that can’t wait. These don’t happen always, but when they do, they’re the greatest treat.

In summary…

Long-term friendships and especially long-distance relationships are all about intentionality and taking the time to find ways to stay in touch. These are just a couple of methods I’ve used to maintain those relationships with the girls in my life. Like I said, I thank God constantly for the technology He’s given us to maintain these connections, though if they didn’t exist, I like to think that I’d be writing letters constantly.

Here’s to my girls and to keeping connections alive in a world of false friendships (Snapchat streaks, I’m looking at you).

Until next week, friends!