I personally think that long distance relationship WILL work. The basic element of the relationship should be Trust. Everything else will be followed, based on the trusts given to one another. Actually, this works for my sister, she married her 8-yr-old-relationship boyfriend, which 5 years based on long distance relationship. She's happy now (been marrying for 3 years now, will go on with the first kid in September)
Actually, this doesn't work on my case couple years ago. My gf back then went to school at the Down Under, and the relationship only worked for about 1.5 years. Oh, well ... I get over it now.