Greg and I have actually only lived in the same city for six months. During that time we spent pretty much every waking moment together. At one point we realized we were spending too much time together and both agreed we would take a few days off. Even then, we would end up on the same stories and work. We couldn't get away from each other.
Last May Greg decided it was time to leave Evansville. He says he never planned on it. He grew up there, his family was there, but after 5 years at News 25, he was bored, not learning anything and ready for something new (and more money). With barely lifting a finger he got two offers, one in Indianapolis and one in Louisville. He took the job in Louisville (the better choice) and moved last June. It was hard at first. We went from living across the street, working the same schedules, to living two hours apart. He was on days and weekends, I was on nights Mondays through Fridays. It was the beginning of many changes for us. Every time we took a few weeks to get used to it, but adjusted pretty well. It was actually good. We had our own separate lives. I think we learned to appreciate each other more.
Next week marks a year since we've been doing this long distance thing. The time apart along with another change and me trying to adjust to my new job is making it harder to get in a routine. It's even harder to get quality time together. We usually go a week and a half, each of us travelling two times a month. This time it's not as easy. Somehow we're managing though. Finding time for the little things to enjoy together. Last time I was in Louisville we got up early in the morning to go to the zoo, before Greg had to go to work. We also went strawberry picking. Last night we decided to cook out when I got off work..at midnight.
Greg bought me the grill for my housewarming gift. Last night was our most successful attempt at cooking the food. It was very exciting. And it was nice to do something together. After we ate and watched a movie. It's all we've got. But it's what we choose.
That's the one nice thing about being in a long distance relationship. We don't really have a choice because that's how our careers work. If we wanted to live in the same city, one of us may not be doing what we want for a living. So it's nice being with someone who understands that. I'm not sure most people would get why you have to move every few years, why you rarely have a holiday or weekend off. Why it's not 9 to 5, but 3 to 12 instead. Why there's no time to have more than a five minute conversation during the work day that usually ends abruptly because there's something happening somewhere. We both have the same goals, we both understand what we do for a living. There's no explanation needed. This is how it is...for now.
That will change eventually. Hopefully, we won't be apart forever. But until then, we enjoy the little things we have. The midnight cookouts, etc. Tomorrow, Greg has the day off and it's my Saturday, so we're going to have a little fun. We're going to Kings Island (for free, another perk of our jobs). It's the first uninterrupted day we've had in more than a month. Getting one day a month like that is pretty lucky for us, so we're going to take full advantage. Now all we have to do is hope the 30 percent chance for isolated thunderstorms stays out of our way!
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