There's no denying that the rising cost of gas is having a huge impact on everyone; most of it negative - unless you happen to own stock in an oil company. We all are having to make adjustments to accommodate the additional hit on our budgets. But surviving a long-distance relationship despite increased costs has become the newest wrinkle shared by couples who love each other from afar. We are being hit not only in our wallets, but in our hearts.

Statistics say that the average long-distance couple lives about 125 miles apart and sees each other one and half times a month. I happen to fall way outside the distance range - my love lives 900 miles away - but we DO manage to see each other once a month on average. Regardless of distance and whether your journey to each other takes place in a car, a bus, or on an airplane, the current fuel prices are increasing transportation costs to such an extent that you may need to consider cutting back on visits.

You probably had a good idea of what it used to cost to see each other but as gas prices increase almost daily, often by as much as ten cents per gallon, it's impossible to predict what those costs will be a month from now or six months from now. It's a good bet, though, that they will be higher than they are today.

Using a distance of 200 miles, an average of 25 miles per gallon and a fuel cost of $4.00 per gallon (projected average), a trip to visit your love will cost about $64 - even more, if you use diesel. That's just to get there and back and doesn't include any driving while you're there. That same trip cost about $44 a short year ago making an increase of $20. Extrapolate that out for one and a half visits per month and the annual increase is $360. That's a significant amount for those on an already tight budget.

If you have to travel by air, the news is even worse. In the last year, the major airlines have added fuel surcharges of $100 or more for a round trip ticket. Not to mention the new charges for checked luggage and the likely implementation of additional fees for "premium" seating - aisles and windows - and beverages! This trend is likely to continue upward until such time that travelers have to cut back on travel. Not an appealing proposition for those of us who rely on air travel to spend time with our partner.

Surviving a long-distance relationship despite increased costs is just one more hurtle to jump. There are many other challenges associated with traveling these days. For some helpful tips on how to ease this burden and increase the likelihood that your LDR will survive, visit www.alongdistancelove.com.