Yeah, for periods of the relationship, at least.
Didn’t work, even though i was fine with the arranegment – despite not preferring it. None of my past partners were able to handle the distance. One broke up with me knowing beforehand he wouldn’t be able to maintain our relationship, which was disappointing, but i respected. Another told me ahead of time, us living in different states, that a ldr wasn’t an option – even tho he very much regretted that. I really respected both for that, despite the obvious let down. For a while after each, we remained in contact, and it was a possibility that i’d transfer to his school eventually… but have since decided against that in both cases, being both over the relationships (despite still liking each of them), and not having any motivation to go to their schools other than them.
The other lived a county or so away. Handled the distance well for most of the relationship. Then i went on vacation. He was a bit distant when i got back, and then his immaturity blew up – painfully – in my face.
Regular contact, sharing interests and a common group of online friends helped. With the last relationship mentioned, being able to meet on weekends was nice, at least at the time (hard to imagine liking being in this guy’s company, the circumstances & all).
Even with more friendship-type relationships, i can feel really close to a friend when we share what’s going on in our lives, and discuss what interests us, what we care about – especially if some of those are in common. Even moreso in the rare cases when you have a frightening amount of common interests.
What really causes the distance to be more than geographic, in my experience, is when your lives pull you in separate directions. Even if that just means being ‘distracted’ by experiences that they’re not a part of, and for whatever reason aren’t worth explaining to them (enough for them to ‘get’ your reactions to daily life, at least the more important ones).
That happens to some degree in all long-distance relationships, fades in and out… but a certain degree of it is detrimental. Having a commitment, or even just an enduring interest in the relationship can minimize this… am sure it takes effort, tho, and even discussing those dynamics as they exist in your relationship.