I’m from a very affectionate family……….I love hugs.

My children give the best hugs……..so nice.

My little great grandson who is five gives me the best hugs with  pats on the back. All I have to say Is Hey, Grandma needs something, he laughs and comes running to give me his big hugs.  I love it!!!!!!!

I think If we could all hug each other the World would be a better place to live.

The hand shake began as a way to show someone you didn’t have a weapon in your hand……..I don’t know exactly in past history when this began.

I like HUGS………….

My closest friends know that I love them and are not needy for words or gestures of affection.  Recently, with a dear, close friend, and cousin, who was going through shear hell, I kissed her on the forehead as I was leaving and said, "Love you."  In a matter-of-fact tone, she said, "I know."  The friends that you’re the closest to are not insecure about your friendship, or your relationships with other friends, because they know where they stand and feel that it is condescending of me to think that I have to reassure them. 

Those friends who are less secure about our friendship (usually newer friends) tend to seem to need more signs of affection.  For instance, I live on an island that is a summer resort four months out of the year and when friends arrive for the summer they seem to need a big hug.  The men like a kiss on the cheek and will often offer up the second cheek as well.  Nowadays, greeting is more about the big hug.  If I’m the person just entering the gathering, these friends will line up for a hug.  Often I can tell that they are apprehensive as they respond wondering whether that hug will include a kiss on the cheek.  It is not that I have to think about who gets a hug and a kiss on the cheek or who just gets a hug (men) or kiss on the cheek (women).  It is all quite fun, an excuse to kiss and hug, but funnily enough, as I said, my closest women friends don’t seem to need either.

For close friends and family, I’m a hugger, but in general, I’m a "toucher". To me, a simple touch creates a personal connection and says "I care about you as a human being".   I’ll touch someone’s arm when we’re talking or touch their shoulder as I pass by to say hello if I’m in a bit of a hurry. 

I was raised in a very affectionate family and hugs are second nature.  My husband’s family life however, was beyond dysfunctional and it’s taken years for him to get used to the hugs from my family.  You can see him stiffen when friends and other people hug him though (even though he tries to hide it).  He finds hugs as a very intimate gesture and he just doesn’t care for it unless he knows someone quite well. 

We moved here a couple of years ago and sadly, I don’t know anyone around here well enough for hugs.  I live in the boonies and just don’t get a chance to meet new people.  I do miss having close friends around, but when I see my old friends I definitely hug since it’s usually been awhile since I’ve seen them.