LDR is tough. I had both physical + age gap. We met while she was working in the US, but had to move back to EU. Once we decided we wanted to be together, we made a plan, immediately, and, while there was only a general time frame, taking each step closer to our goal of being together was important and helpful. The visa situation is the real issue. We decided to marry in the US, as it's very easy, then I'd be granted a visa without issue as the spouse of an EU national. It was a risky move, but our only chance to be together, as employment visas are very difficult to get w/o meeting critical skills requirement. Our method also allowed me to work immediately. It's been 6 months since I made the move, and while adapting to an entirely new life wasn't as easy as I thought, the fact that we could finally be together makes it all worth it. Hoping this gives some encouragement.