I have been long distance with my boyfriend for 3 years, and it was 2 years before we met in person. They are not a long term thing, but are a GREAT way to meet amazing people. Takes a lot of commitment, patience, and care for it to work. I think it's a great rout for LGBT folk because our numbers are significantly smaller than the general population.

I feel you should always have a goal to meet and spend time in person, as I think it's healthy for a relationship.