What's the longest online friendship or relationship that you've had?

@firefall: That's wonderful. I've met a few people online who have become close friends. I'm grateful for them. Glad to hear your friendship has lasted so long!

That's mind blowing tbh 😵

@MissingNotes: I think it mostly happens about ppl mutually deep in a hobby (wargaming, which is mine, but I know ppl with similar longstanding friendships in the model railways, & r/c aeroplane modelling groups. Basically, all nerds together lol)

@Justme5969: That's great! It's always nice when you live close enough to meet!

@PreciousIllusions: yes, it is.

@MaterialGirlCx: I say the same about my online friend! We have a connection that just works! I feel very fortunate!

@PreciousIllusions: we live close so it would only be like 3-5 hours to drive

@MaterialGirlCx: that's nice. Mine is more like 6 hours. Still doable we just haven't planned anything yet.

@FozzyUK: Do you still stay in contact frequently?

@PreciousIllusions: yeah not every day or even every week but definitely touch base regularly - mostly via fb now I'll admit ;)

I understand. The person I was closest to online for four years is no longer in touch. We wanted different things, and it was really hard when he just disappeared from my life.

@ChampagneOnIce: That's what scares me the most. He's become such a huge part of my life that I can't imagine a day without chatting. However, online friendships can be so different than real life ones. There's always the possibility of losing touch and never chatting again.

Exactly. I'm fairly guarded. I'm selective with whom I let get close, with whom I let in. True connections are rare and so wonderful when you find them. We clicked quickly, and I was an open book with him. Mourning the loss of his presence was one of the most difficult and painful times in my life.

I've had time to process, and I'm healing. Most days I'm quite well, happy, grateful, going about my life. But there are moments when I feel the loss again, and I miss what we shared. I know life moves on, and some people aren't meant to stay in your life. It's just really hard when you make a deep connection like that, and it ends, even when you know it's for the best.

I hope your friendship lasts, but if it runs its course I hope you both give each other the closure you need to move on and be happy having learned and grown from the experience.

@ChampagneOnIce: It's a shame when that happens.

@Ephemeral: 4 years is a long time! I'm sure losing touch hurt. I'm sorry.

@Ephemeral: It is. It was really painful. Still is sometimes, but life moves on. I'm sorry your friendship/relationship ended too.

@Starshine: wow! Did you lose touch?

@PreciousIllusions: yes for some reason we did. If i was busy he would chat with my famiy..lol we gave each other gifts all the time. He had to take a different job and I think he lost his internet

@Starshine: Gosh, that sounds like it would have been painful.

@Snowvixen: proof that sometimes online relationships do work! 😊 Congrats!

@PreciousIllusions: Yep! Sure do! :) Thank you!

@Sushi: you lucked out and found both! 😊

@Rehabparty23: Thats a pretty long time!

@Salix75: oh wow.. that's a great story on both accounts! 😊

@theclocks: I am also one that never had any.

@theclocks: Online relationships of the romantic nature don't make a lot of sense to me. I really doubt you're the only one here. But I'm all for friendships. Or whatever one wants to call them. I think of these friendships as more of a 'people you like to type at and put away when your done'.

@theclocks: As already stated, I didn't strictly specify a relationship. However, as a few have commented, there are some who have met the spouse online.

@PiecingMeBackTogether: I found my first online friend on EP 4 years ago also? What's happening with the relationship? You just getting bored with it?

I feel that I'm the one doing everything and she replies to me like once every 3 to 4 days and it feels lonely, I talked to her about it more than once, and she promises we'll talk more and we do for a day or two then vanishes again. As for my best friend, we talk daily unless there's something happening with me or with her.

@Kindheartedguy: that's so sweet. She sounds like a good friend!

@Discombobulatedbunny: That's a long time! There really are good peeps online and not just trolls..lol

@PreciousIllusions: There are a few. ~smiles~

@Discombobulatedbunny: 😊

@Fantabulous: cool.. that's pretty long!

@Solipsism: that's a pretty long time!

@PreciousIllusions: True, we started talking on EP and switched to email after EP went kaput. To tell you the truth if anyone would've asked me two years ago if it was possible to have an online friendship last that long I would have laughed at them.

How about you?

@Solipsism: I completely understand! It sounds totally ridiculous and I was really skeptical. However, I've had a few as long as 4 years. Currently, I found my best friend on here and we've been chatting daily for 9 months. I feel very fortunate!

@Stark: oh no, what happened? 😕

@PreciousIllusions: it's all good. It's no big deal. The friendship just wasn't going in the best direction and it's a good thing it ended 😋

Lol, oh please don't be. It prob took a third of that time for me to finally open up and allow him in.
I've also had one that is quite painful.

Anyway...how long for you?

@Magenta: I get it. I'm very private and open up to very few. Especially acquaintances online. However, every once in a while one sneaks up and I let my guard down. My first friendship on EP has lasted 4 years so far. While we don't talk a lot anymore, we still keep in touch. Ironically, he messaged me Friday that he misses me.

It's been 9 months for my friend and I on here. While he has since left the site, we chat daily still and he is my very best friend. I can't imagine a day without chatting with him. I know nothing is guaranteed so I'm just fortunate for the days we get to spend together.

I know all about a painful one all too well also. Learned a lot and vowed never to do it again.

I am the same, private and a bit withdrawn. Ooh yes, the ones that sneak up on you! Develop over time..💘

Aaw that is special and to still be in each others lives, a treasure to be enjoyed. Glad for you.

I understand. We have the pain because it was real to us, we were deeply connected. 🤗

@Tryingtofindabalance: that sounds kind of harsh. While my friendship is just an online one, he still is very much part of my life. I can't imagine just cutting him out of my life even after just 9 months.

@PreciousIllusions: it is what it is... I can't control whether I feel bad about it or not...

@Tryingtofindabalance: hey, that's my phrase! Lol.

@WiseGirl: And you can usually tell within the very few messages if you are gonna click! I've had a friend for 4 years. We used to talk everyday but have recently lost touch. I met a friend on here and we've been chatting daily for 9 months. 😊

@PreciousIllusions: Here I was thinking that I am the only one that can immediately tell from a few msg's. This is how I have been online. Wow that's a long time, must feel great finding that connection. All the best to you and your friend. :)

@WiseGirl: Oh no, I completely tell within the first few minutes if I want to continue chatting with someone..lol. Thanks so much!

@mikowee: that's cool! 😊

@Planter715: Sometimes it just happens when you click with someone.

@PreciousIllusions: Yeah, it's that girl from earlier!

@SilverLung: one day at a time! 😊

@PreciousIllusions: Yeh I know.

@Faust76: smart ass! 😛

@PreciousIllusions: 30 months and 5000 miles I guess; I guess that's a record on both accounts, as well as both categories.

@Faust76: That's almost 3 years but that mileage sucks though!

@Sakurari: That's awesome! 😊

Yes, it is. She's my BFF and I haven't met her yet
@PreciousIllusions:

@JaggedLittlePill: Congratulations! 😆