The longer people have been out of school, the farther away they tend to feel from the sights, sounds and faces associated with their former collegiate lives.

I'm no exception to the rule, sadly. I've lost my fair share of friends, both as a result of my own failings and the faults of others. But I've also managed, through hard work and diligence, to maintain several relationships despite physical and emotional distance.

How? My college graduation was my second; when I graduated from high school only 4 years prior, I faced surprisingly similar problems. Though I fell victim to various pitfalls way back when, this time around I've learned from my mistakes. Here are some tricks I've picked up when it comes to keeping friends:

1. Pick up the damn phone and call.
Texts, emails and instant messages are no substitute for the sound of a human voice. A single phone call will go a long way with a friend who will a) be touched you thought to call, b) be more likely to talk with you about real issues instead of casual text/IM topics, and c) be more motivated to call you in the future.

2. Keep friends abreast of events in your life.
Don't just fall off the edge of the earth. Create a mailing list to which you regularly send emails. My high school friends and I have one that we use to regularly send out "life updates." With everyone scattered around the country, sometimes the best thing to do is to send emails to a select few with your major life changes. Trust me, friends will not only read them, they'll be touched you included them on the list.

3. Don't hold friends' bad communication habits against them.
It's just a fact that some people are better at keeping in touch than others. Most times, these people just get caught up in their own lives and forget to give you a ring. If you're understanding and persistent, often times they'll see the effort you're making and then in turn will make it themselves.

4. Let some friends go.
Keeping #3 in mind, some people are just not worth your time. If you feel like you're always the one putting in the effort, if they never return calls and always respond to yours with 'Oh, I've been meaning to call you, I swear!' then they probably aren't worth keeping in touch with. After all, no healthy friendship can be one-sided. Though it may hurt to let these people go, sometimes it's in your own best interest to cut your losses and move on to better, more reliable friends.

5. Spend the money to visit.
When most people graduate from college, they're broke as broke can be. This description fits me unfortunately well, but I've still managed to visit friends both near and far. Physical distance often results in emotional distance, so visiting close friends at least every few months is a necessity when it comes to maintaining these relationships. Look for cheap air fares on Travelocity.com or research alternate travel options, such as various Chinatown buses which cost as little as $25 each way. Your friends will appreciate it, and you'll most likely have a blast reliving your college days. But beware: if someone is happy to have you visit, but is reluctant to travel themselves? You may just have a toxic friend on your hands, in which case refer to rule #4.

I hope you find these tips useful. Do you have any other suggestions I may have left out? Write your friendship-saving hints in the comments section.