Let’s face it, you can’t control who you fall in love with. If you meet someone who lives 100 or more miles away and you can’t live without him/her, you’re going to have to find a way to make it work. Long-distance relationships can be a challenge, especially when you want to see that special someone more than once a week. However, the habits that develop from a long-distance relationship can be destructive to the environment. So how can you keep your relationship on the right track while reducing your impact on the environment? It’s possible to show love to both, but you might have to do more thinking with your head than with your heart.
- Find an alternative mode of transportation when you’re visiting your boyfriend or girlfriend. For example, take a train, bus or rent a hybrid car. If you’re positive this relationship is worth the effort, consider investing in a hybrid car, because it will save you money in the long run. Another option is to carpool with a friend or family member who already commutes near the location your sweetheart lives.
- Plan quality time together as opposed to short-lived rendezvous. Instead of traveling all of that way and visiting for a short period of time, decide to hang out over the weekends. Then during the week, you can talk on the phone or even video chat online to keep in touch.
- Purchase carbon offsets to balance out your driving or flying. If you decide to go this route, research the offsets and find out where the money is going.
- Book non-stop flights when you have the opportunity. Airplanes actually create more carbon emissions when they takeoff and land so non-stop flights burn less fuel and emit less carbon.
Long-distance relationships can work and they can be eco-friendly too. Although you might want to travel and see your loved one every day, it’s not practical for the environment or your wallet. When you can’t stand the planning and traveling anymore, you can consider a bigger compromise like relocating closer when the relationship gets serious.
