[slimgrin]

cmdr_flashheart said:

@ Costin: whatever you do, be careful and don't end up losing a kidney Best of luck. ›››

Let's hope he doesn't wake up in a bathtub full of ice and note on the mirror telling him to call 911.

[Glaroug]

Best of luck to you Costin. It sounds magical exciting and terrifying.

Wear boots made of iron, take in hand a staff of steel. Then walk until the end of the world. Help yourself with your staff to break the land before you and wet it with your tears. Go through fire and water, do not stop along the way, do not look behind you. And when the boots are worn, when your staff is blunt, once the wind and the heat has dried your eyes so that your tears no longer flow, then at the end of the world you may find what you are looking for and what you love...”

Costin went through fire and water, he did not look back. He did not take iron boots or a staff of steel. He took only his passport.

He did not listen to the words of Glaroug. And he did well because Glaroug was full of crap.

[Guy N'wah]

▫ Dona ▫ said:

"Oh, let me just check what [an artist I like] is up to..." one hour later and I'm cackling at some high-profile art drama - it's been rolling out for years now, it seems. It's sad and disheartening every time it happens and people speak out, and I can't help but feel artists don't have a good online support system they used to have. Or I'm simply not paying enough attention. With all the entertainment industry crap that's been happening, it's hard to be surprised, but it's sad nonetheless. ›››

It is sad. Many popular artists don't have any kind of support system; they have a collection of parasites that follows them around. It takes strength to stand up to these flatterers and fair-weather friends, and to the howls of a vengeful public when you slip up.

[Wichat]

@Costin, The only think I can say is JUMP! I did it after one year of conversation online and there's can be only two answers: or she is the greast pretender of the world or you've find a special friend for you. Distance is a false barrier but very convenient as an excuse for not to risk />/> You only must be yourself convinced and prepared for what you can find, satisfactory or not.

[Costin Moroianu]

slimgrin said:

Let's hope he doesn't wake up in a bathtub full of ice and note on the mirror telling him to call 911. ›››

Bad memories slim?

Everyone else: Thanks, it's nice to have such support.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Dawww my internet bro all grown up
Don't I have a say in this? It's customary for us to talk about shit like that over booze you know.

In all seriousness, go for it. I tend to become timid and awkward a bit myself, but if you click with that person, you'd be surprised how natural and organic it becomes. And you'd be surprised at how much you wouldn't care about judgment because you know she wouldn't judge you.

For instance, I never act silly or dumb around people, and I can tolerate people hating me (heck I can even enjoy it), but the one thing I cannot abide by is having my intelligence insulted. But with special people (a very rare experience I've had), I act around them like the silliest dumbest fool, because I stop worrying about my image.

Oh also, one sure thing for me that makes you know you made it: comfortable silences.
There is nothing more awkward than silences in a couple or mutual LIs let's call them. Except if you click so much that both of you know that you don't have to talk nonstop all the time and are perfectly capable of being silent for 15 minutes or half an hour or even hours, doing nothing but staring, or eating or whatever. So if you do end up meeting and have comfortable silences, consider yourself up a level.

[.Volsung.]

So we're talking relationships now Bartender! A tankard of beer!

I agree with comfortable silences, it's a good sign and you do not always have to talk.

And guys, loosen up. Contrary to what some of you may think, acting all smart comes out as being a dork usually. If you're interesting then you can talk about anything with a dose of intelligence and humor.

Also an advice: don't talk about videogames like it's the best thing ever, but make it sound like it's a normal form of entertainment. If she doesn't already, she might start liking or at least respecting them once she sees your point of view. And never put a game before a person, that's about the dumbest thing a "gamer" can do.

[Bloth]

Go for it Costin, and good luck, keep your peepers peeled though.

[Costin Moroianu]

Well Volsung in my situation she is a video gamer and also she and I both like to talk a lot />/> Hell we've spent hours on end each day ( 2-3 hours that is ) since we've started chatting on skype just talking on call.

As for acting silly, I feel like I am digging myself into a hole around her because like you said Knight you stop caring for your image. It's kinda funny people have always told me in real life that you can't start a real relationship on the net since people tell only what they want and while that is true I also think that on the net you can be a lot more open and honest then in real life and this exactly what we've been doing, essentially we opened our hearts and souls to each other in a very honest way.

This all may sound ridiculous I know, I have some trouble accepting this myself but we've decided to meet each other, so come early April I'm hauling my ass to Germany.

[dragonbird]

Germany? That's almost next door - definitely go for it. And about people only telling you what they think you want to hear, sure, that can happen with internet relationships, but it happens in real life too. But accept that the first real-life meeting MAY be awkward, because you'll probably both have the slight sense of it being weird, and maybe too high an expectation of it. Just go with the flow, and enjoy yourselves.

[Costin Moroianu]

If you mean 1000 miles as being right next door then sure ( She's in the far west of Germany ).

As for it being awkward, yeah I am ready for that...well as ready as one can be

[slimgrin]

Costin Moroianu said:

If you mean 1000 miles as being right next door then sure ( She's in the far west of Germany ).

As for it being awkward, yeah I am ready for that...well as ready as one can be ›››

Meh, that's a drive across my home state. Have you actually exchanged pictures? That might be wise...

[Costin Moroianu]

We've chatted on web cam

And how much does this "drive" take you?

[freakie1one]

slimgrin said:

Meh, that's a drive across my home state. Have you actually exchanged pictures? That might be wise... ›››

I think he said they chat on Skype. Perhaps those are video calls?

[freakie1one]

Costin Moroianu said:

We've chatted on web cam ›››

You're too quick!

[slimgrin]

Costin Moroianu said:

We've chatted on web cam

And how much does this "drive" take you? ›››

Ok, an exaggeration. Not 1000 miles, closer to 600. Anyway, good luck. I've been to Germany. Beautiful country, good beer, lovely women. I'm envious.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Oh Germany's nothing man, go for it. No stupid oceans in the way...

[Guy N'wah]

It's 2-1/2 hours nonstop by air from Bucharest to Köln/Bonn, so not quite next door, but not quite Stamboul Train, either. Just right to start fresh, build anticipation, and arrive fresh. Bon courage.

[Dragon'sDream]

I agree with everyone else, I think you should totally go for it Costin. You have little to lose and everything to gain. Best of luck, keep us updated!

[Costin Moroianu]

I am starting to understand just how much international travel sucks. I've traveled through much of Romania but never been to another country. Now I'm looking at a train that would take me 30 hours but would be cheap versus a plane that would land 30 mins from the city...urgh.

Forget about awkwardness when first meeting each other I'll be happy to be off the damned thing!

Quote

Oh Germany's nothing man, go for it. No stupid oceans in the way...

You don't like air travel over oceans I take it?