Reports say that up to 60% of relationships start online. Sure, they’re talking about romantic relationships, but we’re here to tell you about the most successful online hookup ever: our friendship.
In this town, we were destined to meet, but it was the good ol’ Twitter that expedited the connection. From online exchanges to Tweetups, it wasn’t long before we had a weekly hiking date at Red Rocks Open Space. Eventually, we became each other’s emergency contacts and now refer to each other as FLLPs (that’s faux lesbian life partners).
Fifteen years later, this friendship has racked up both literal and figurative miles, though 10 years ago we did accidentally buy houses a short walking distance from each other.
Here are some of the ways we’ve kept a modern friendship between two REDACTED-year-olds alive.
Keep up Conversations on a Half Dozen Platforms
Life is busy, and sometimes we go weeks without seeing each other. But not a day goes by without some form of connection: texts, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok. Our biggest challenge is remembering where we were talking about what. Did I text that recipe or send it on Instagram? Did I even tell you this or did I imagine it? Are we repeating ourselves? That’s OK too, considering our ages.
Sometimes one of us will “save” a conversation because we know we’ll see each other in person soon. As if we’d ever run out of things to talk about.
Remember That “You Look Amazing!”
Think Snapchat is only for the youth? Hardly. Our Snap streak is nearly two years old. Most days we’re sending each other fit checks. We are there to hype each other up.
“Remember when we both got this sweater I’m wearing?”
“You look perfect for a cozy, work-from-home day.”
“That color is so good on you!”
If you’re not getting positive affirmations from a bestie every day, are you even BFFs?
Keep It Money Among Friends
There’s girl math and then there’s BFF math. When you spend enough time together, the idea that we will end up even in the end just works. Split a check? Why bother. I get it this time; you get it next. Did you get it last time? Did I? It doesn’t matter; we will come up even.
A common text between us is: “I’m going to place an order, see anything that looks good?” Because no one should pay for shipping. (We follow the same laissez fare approach to exchanging money when we place orders together. It seems like anything under $30 is a write-off. More than that? We’ll see.)
We figure we save money by being besties. Grabbing something at Costco? Never fear, you have someone to share them with. Making a giant batch of chili? Fill up the Tupperware I sent you pasta salad in last week! And we might have signed up for a gym membership using the family rate.
Share a Hobby
One of us loves karaoke; the other loves pub quizzes. One loves biking; the other golf. But there’s one hobby we share and that’s bloody marys. One day over brunch at 503W, we were drinking bloodies and one of us said, “You know, we should start an Instagram account dedicated to bloody marys.” And that day, we posted our first bloody on our Instagram account @bloodiesandbrunch.
Since then, we had a logo designed. We made stickers (let us know if you need one for your Stanley mug or laptop). We had two vests embroidered at Tayco Screen Printing. And then we achieved what might be the highest honor in bloody fandom — we were invited to judge the Bloody Mary Festival in Denver. (Be our newest follower so you, too, can always answer the question, “Who has the best bloody in town?)
Be Partners in Safety
Does anyone really need to know where you are 24/7? The answer is yes.
As independent adult women, we feel safer knowing that the other knows exactly where we are thanks to Find My Friends or Snap Map.
Thankfully so far, it’s been false alarms. Once when the cyclist was out of town for a 100-mile race, the golfer happened to check her location and see that the cyclist was at a hospital. One concerned text later, it turned out the hospital was the location for the packet pickup for the ride. Does that sound creepy? Maybe, but there’s something comforting knowing that someone who cares knows where you are.
Confide Your Deepest Secrets
Along with the responsibility, there’s the obligation to remove all evidence. We all need a best friend who we can share our darkest, most sinister thoughts with, knowing we won’t be judged. The friend you can say things that might get you fired or cancelled or banned from family gatherings. Someone you can be honest with about ugly babies.
Because at the end of the day, the best friendships aren’t built on having everything in common. They’re built on showing up, cheering each other on, keeping each other safe, and carrying each other’s secrets. One of the memes we’re always sending back and forth goes, “The strongest duos always include one person whose name ends in “uhhh” and the other ends in “eeee.” The longer we do life together, the more convinced we are that everyone deserves a person who knows exactly how weird they are and sticks around anyway.
Convince a Local Publisher to Give You a Column
We keep ourselves entertained, perhaps we can entertain you too! Springs magazine is banking on it. We look forward to sharing ideas and adventures — and hearing how you bestie in Colorado Springs and beyond! Let us know here.
