My boyfriend and I met each other in January, started hooking up in March, and it was clear early on we both had serious feelings for the other. Things progressed quickly from hooking up every night to dating within a month, and by mid-May we were in a relationship. For the past month we've been seeing each other every day, have both met each others' parents, and have essentially been living together in the same city. I left for 7 weeks of study abroad yesterday, and saying goodbye to him was the first time he's seen me cry since we met. 

We're not staying exclusive while I'm gone because he was concerned we didn't have the solid foundation on which to build a long-distance exclusive relationship and was worried he would start resenting me while alone in the city he's in. All along, I've been the one more concerned about exclusivity, but I said that I took him at his word that us staying exclusive while I'm gone would be harmful. As I was leaving, he said that the absence might be a good thing, as we've spent so much time together in the past month that both of us have forgotten what it's like to miss the other.

That said, I'm worried that an absence almost as long as the duration of our relationship is going to lead to overthinking and fizzling. Any advice as to how I can keep our feelings for each other strong while I'm gone? I really like this guy and don't want the good thing we had to have died over the long break. This is my first seemingly serious relationship (he dated his HS GF for three years) and I really want to make it work.
user
Dated a guy for three months, the last of which was very serious, just left for 7 weeks, anxious
assistant
My boyfriend and I met each other in January, started hooking up in March, and it was clear early on we both had serious feelings for the other. Things progressed quickly from hooking up every night to dating within a month, and by mid-May we were in a relationship. For the past month we've been seeing each other every day, have both met each others' parents, and have essentially been living together in the same city. I left for 7 weeks of study abroad yesterday, and saying goodbye to him was the first time he's seen me cry since we met. 

We're not staying exclusive while I'm gone because he was concerned we didn't have the solid foundation on which to build a long-distance exclusive relationship and was worried he would start resenting me while alone in the city he's in. All along, I've been the one more concerned about exclusivity, but I said that I took him at his word that us staying exclusive while I'm gone would be harmful. As I was leaving, he said that the absence might be a good thing, as we've spent so much time together in the past month that both of us have forgotten what it's like to miss the other.

That said, I'm worried that an absence almost as long as the duration of our relationship is going to lead to overthinking and fizzling. Any advice as to how I can keep our feelings for each other strong while I'm gone? I really like this guy and don't want the good thing we had to have died over the long break. This is my first seemingly serious relationship (he dated his HS GF for three years) and I really want to make it work.
user
Staying apart for 7 weeks in order to spend time together and build solid foundation for long-distance relationship; looking
assistant