Author(s): Caroline Tiger

European History

It's astonishing but true: About 2.4 million Americans are involved in "commuter marriages" where spouses live in different locations because they need to follow job opportunities. Expand that number to include all couples where one partner has moved away to start a new job, join the military, or continue his/her education - then add in the vast number of people who travel regularly for their jobs-and you're looking at a truly pervasive phenomenon: Long-distance relationship (LDR) couples are everywhere. The other astonishing fact is that most books dealing with LDRs have been so enormously lame, focusing on the emotional consequences of LDRs instead of the steps couples can take to make the most of and even enjoy their long-distance relationships. The "Long-Distance Relationship Guide" remedies that situation. With fun yet informative chapters on starting, maintaining, and surviving the LDR, this book is chockfull of helpful quizzes, entertaining sidebars, tips from truckers' spouses and military wives, couple case studies, and lists, lists, lists (the top ten LDR songs, the best LDR movies, and more). Anecdotes from couples who successfully (or unsuccessfully) navigated the world of LDPs (long distance partners) are liberally sprinkled throughout each chapter. Dozens of tips for devising creative care packages, using technology to bridge distances, dealing with the "stand-in" boyfriend/girlfriend, and spotting the serial long-distance dater focus on the realities of being in an LDR.