Valentine’s Day: Long-distance lovers can wine and dine over Skype

With Valentine’s Day nearing, those of us in relationships are feeling the pressure to plan romance and meet high expectations made by ever-consuming  America, old traditions and even ourselves. For some couples, the problem can be solved with a last-minute stop at the nearest corner store to buy chocolates and roses.

 
For those of us whose significant others are miles away, this holiday requires more planning. With shipping fees, differences in time zones, faulty Internet connections and lonely dinners, Valentine’s Day can be a marathon of trouble for some  couples.
Here are some tips that can help you become your own Cupid.

Ship love

 
If you plan on sending a gift to your special one, buying items in time to allow for shipping before Valentine’s Day is essential. Buy a lot of small gifts or candies to fill the box to it’s capacity if you have extra room. If you happen to receive your package before your partner does, exercise your patience and wait for theirs to arrive so you can open them together.

Find a better connection

 
The Internet is a life saver for many in long distance relationships, but it can also be the source of all of the problems.

 
Avoid public places with free Wi-Fi as these often have the worst connection. Pixelated images that results from it don’t create a pristine romantic environment for expressing your devotion.

 
Make a video message instead of a video call; you won’t need a perfect Internet connection, and your special someone can watch the message as many times as he or she wants.

 
Find a good time of day for a call when your bandwidth isn’t used up; it can allow you to be more present with your partner during a video chat.

Wine, dine and Skype

 
A dinner date over Skype is possibly the most romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day with a partner who is far away.

 
Together, plan the menu for the evening ahead of time and buy the same bottle of wine and necessary ingredients. With laptops put over the stovetops, prepare the meal, and when it is ready, sit down and watch a movie, enjoying the food, wine and each other.

 
Rabb.it is a great app that can be used to snuggle up and video chat while watching a film on the same screen.

 
A dinner over Skype  might be the closest you can get to going out together, but on the bright side, you can even do it in sweatpants.

 
With modern technology and a little creativity, you can say goodbye to the days when long distance relationships were nearly impossible and doomed. Now, even with thousand of miles between you, you can share the love.