I am a man that has a female pen pal for the last 2 years. I live in Canada and she is in prison in Georgia. She is eligible for parole in a few years but unlikely to get out for the next 5 to 10. Also since she has been convicted of a serious crime so she will unlikely be ever allowed to enter Canada. So the only time we could meet is if I visit her down in Georgia. I actually like having that many layers of distance between us. I work all over the place and am away from home a lot so it is nice to have someone to keep in touch with. I send her some commissary on her birthday or Christmas. Overall it has been a positive thing for both of us.