There is a thing called 'relationship decay'. Some people experience it as rapid, some slower, some nearly no decay. I suspect some relationships are the same way. I've a lot of friends who I only see once or twice a year, or less, and yet when we do get together it's still an intensely powerful and connected relationship, e.g. for a week or two at a seminar. And then we go home to our usual circumstance, "see ya next year."