This is how it works in the universe in the novel "Right of Return" by Janusz Zajdel - humanity has developed both safe hibernation as well as practical sub-lig

This is how it works in the universe in the novel "Right of Return" by Janusz Zajdel - humanity has developed both safe hibernation as well as practical sub-light travel. Many colonies, research stations and logistic hubs have been established with fast and dependable sub-light ships traversing between them. On such a ship most of the crew is in hibernation at any one time, with just a couple people taking shifts from the hibernation to stand a watch during the flight. Even with the ships reaching high sub-light speeds, the voyages take decades from outside perspective. But that might not be a problem! If you are one of the crew it might seem like a couple weeks as that's how long you flight crew shift took. If you are a passenger - it takes not time at all, you just go to hibernation & wake up at you destination! So as long as you are a spacer or part of the wider community (e.q. space scientists who either study a wonder of space or are in transit to another one) this is fine - you will meet you friends again in a couple flight, in days or weeks of subjective time. But if you befriends someone outside of the community or decide it was enough and settle down, you might never see them again. Can really recommend the novel - has much more than this topic & quite a few other surprises. :) [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Zajdel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Zajdel