How did we get here again?

So Richard is still in Kansas. It hasn't been too bad trying to work out the time difference because his work hours are more reasonable out there, so he is staying up later, which is nice. He came to visit on the 10th and we had a really great weekend. The best weekend we have had in months. I am going out there this weekend and I hope we have a repeat performance. For awhile, I was beginning to think that this had all been a giant mistake, but having a nice weekend reinforced to me why we are doing this in the first place. He is really enjoying his time there, and I have decided that it doesn't really matter where he is, the point is that he isn't HERE. All of this led me to think about all that is required out of an LDR and the decision to be in one to begin with. How after over six years together, did we end up HERE AGAIN?
A question I have been reluctant to ask myself is if I had the chance to do it all over, would I? Right now I don't know what the answer is. My gut says, 'yes of course you would.' My brain says, 'really, because this pretty much sucks, and I don't know if that would be such a good call.' My heart says, 'I don't remember signing up for this exactly, maybe we should have read the fine print. I remember something about a six month limit?' Too bad brain, heart and gut rarely agree. Well obviously, they all agreed when this decision was made this time last year. Or maybe one was stifling the other?
So how does one come to the decision to be in a LDR? I think probably in a lot of situations, people just let life happen to them. And then complain about it. In our situation, I think Richard is letting life happen to him, and I'm doing all the complaining for both of us. But in all honesty, we both ended up where we are today because we both made choices to put our careers before our relationship. I don't know what that says about us, or our relationship, but the facts are the facts. When looking at all of the possible options, neither one of us wanted to quit our jobs so that we could stay together, which would have been option A. So we chose option B, go for the LDR again. Even though we swore we never would. Even though we said that it would only be for six months. Six months has come and gone, but neither one of us wants to quit yet. So the solution? Keep on keeping on. Because option C, separating and moving on with our lives, isn't an option either of us is ready to chose. In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't go with option A and quit my job to move to SoCal with him last year. Where would I be now if I did that? Still struggling to finish my hours no doubt, making less money and living paycheck to paycheck, and hey, I would be in a LDR ANYWAY because he would be in Kansas! Where would we be if he had chose option A? I can't answer that. I have my fantasies, but who knows if it would have worked out for the best with what is happening to the economy right now.
So what is the point of all of this? The point is that my advice to anyone out there considering this option for their relationship is to really be sure of what you are getting yourself into if you chose to be in a LDR. Try to have a plan you can realistically stick to. Make sure that the end result is going to be worth all of the pain, frustration, miscommunication, and loneliness. How can you be sure that it will be worth it? You can't I suppose. There are no sure things in life. There are no guarantees. We don't even have the guarantee of tomorrow. You have to make the choice that this is something that both of you can do, and that both of you will put the effort into making work. Really truly listen to your brain, your gut, and your heart. Maybe one of them will say something you don't want to hear, but it might save you a lot of hurt. Maybe for you, they will all be in agreement.