If it's a along distance relationship it may keep the "romantic love" going longer, however if there is no possibility of them being together eventually it'll die, it has to...if it has no future of being together.
My situation is a bit different in that my H is in an unrequited infatuation with a woman who lives overseas. He was first obsessed with her 13 years ago - before we met. He said he finally got past it when she got in a relationship.
Well, he saw her again last summer, and she was out of that relationship and off he went again.
I tend to think that any sort of barrier keeps the fantasy going. I think that getting in to a real life, day to day relationship is more likely to pop the fantasy bubble.
