Hi everyone,

I'm with a guy I met in high school and we've been together for about 7 years. When we graduated we found that we have different career paths. He wants to be in culinary which for the most part will keep in at home whereas I am pursuing a career as an equestrian athlete which will take me all over the country for a few years but I will eventually settle and have my own business when I am about 30 (I am 21 now).
We are a good match together other than this. We really want to make it work and have happy lives together. Has anybody had any experience with this? Advice? Thanks in advance!

I can't imagine why that wouldn't work. My husband was a 5ESS installer for AT&T (don't ask me what he did, have no clue), and I was a librarian. He liked working with his hands and being alone, whereas I liked research and dealing with people. We both love cats and rescued them from the mean streets and then found good homes for them (while working with the local shelter).

Do you think you both have to be working at the same thing? Or are you worried about the times apart?

I'm worried about the years apart. It feels like we're crossing our fingers that we will end up together when we finally settle down.

I'm worried about the years apart. It feels like we're crossing our fingers that we will end up together when we finally settle down.
With e-mail and inexpensive calling packages and Skype and even snail mail, you two will do just fine. You've already weathered seven years, right?

Why years apart? Many couples in relationships such as this take time to visit each other on weekends or holidays.

Any reason why you wouldn't be able to come home now and then or he couldn't fly to where you are going to be once in awhile? You could even plan vacation time together to meet up someplace not work related.

You can end up with the best of both worlds... your independence to follow your goals, and time together now and then to reconnect as a couple. Along the way you share your unique experiences with each other.

As was said, there are several ways to stay in daily contact until you can get together in person.

No point in worrying about way in the future, just do your best with what you have, and enjoy it. When the time comes to make the decision to "settle down", you will. Right now, you don't even know when that will be.

But fact is you KNOW its NOT now, because you both have things you want to do before making that commitment to each other, and for now that's okay. Just take one day at a time and see what happens.