Couples who Hold Hands

[MrCranky]

I’m interested in other people’s views on couples who walk around holding hands.

Do you and your partner do this?

We do, but I’ve noticed that I don’t really see others doing it and wondered if we’re perceived as a bit weird.

Yes we love it, it feels close and a small way of showing affection and that we are together

Yep, together 26 years and do it all the time.

You should be able to hold hands, practise a Paddington bear hard stare.

This reminded me of friends I bumped into during covid.
As they were a gay couple they worried that people may think they were breaking the bubble rules when out together.
I told them to just hold hands and we parted with them holding hands.

I’ve been married 59 years and we’ve always held hands, but nowadays it’s more like him holding me up.

@SwanUpmanship thank you for the reminder! No, we haven't been but it is funny you should mention it as we passed through there on the train last weekend and remarked that we still need to go.

We're due a bit more weekend time together soon so we will make a point of doing so. I can 100% see why communities like this become popular as you can just blend in!

Any recommendations for pubs? We like a nice craft beer.

We do hold hands sometimes but not for long.
DH had massive thick fingers and mine are quite small so it gets a bit uncomfortable, plus I have hot hands!

Together 16 years and have 3 children under 10. We hold hands on the rare occasions we’re out and about by ourselves. At other times we’re usually holding our children’s hands instead!

We hold hands sometimes, not all the time we are out. Both in our forties and we are a relatively ‘new’ 8 year long relationship and getting married next year. We still make an effort to ‘date’ each other. Blended family and our kids are older so we aren’t wrangling toddlers around.

You'll be spoilt for choice! The Shoulder of Mutton right in the centre has a good range of cask ales and a traditional pub vibe. Rebel Rebel is an 'art cafe' with amazing artwork and posters and they have a small selection of bottled craft beers, it's not in the main square so doesn't get as rammed as some of those cafes at busy times and it's worth going in just to admire the decor.

There's also a cafe in the town hall which does a very good lunch at reasonable prices and has a riverside terrace if the weather is up to it.

If you like feeding wild birds, take some wild bird food with you - there are Canada geese, white geese and ducks on the canal, the stream and sometimes just roaming the streets.

There are two big antiques arcades, several vintage clothing shops and several charity shops as well as independent and craft shops. Saturday is the craft market, Friday is the vintage market, Sunday seems to be an ';anything goes' type of market! It's a good place to go on a Sunday because everything is open, unlike some places you go that are dead on a Sunday.

Have fun!

DP and I are four years in, we hold hands quite a lot or link arms and walk together. I guess it was something we started when we were first in love and never really stopped — it’s half habit, half a lovely way to feel connected to someone when you’re a little lost in your own thoughts and don’t necessarily want to talk.

Thanks again @SwanUpmanship that is really useful info. I just suggested a visit to DP and she said "definitely!".

We do most of the time if it's practical and we're not carrying anything. If we're a bit frosty with each other then we might not but holding hands is a silent way to soften the tension, reconnect, forget and forgive.

We always do when space allows. We have been together 37 years.

We do and it’s mainly just habit/way of connecting when we’re walking quietly in the woods or something but I do reach for his hand when we’re about to cross a road as he has a vision problem that means he feels less safe crossing roads. Years ago we agreed that he would trust my judgment on this one or we would just be standing forever waiting or I would be waiting for ages for him on the other side! It’s a way of making sure we cross together safely. I bet this looks infantilising but it works for us!

If we get the chance. Normally we have DS with us so will be holding his hand. We did go to the pub (on our own) last weekend and we did hold hands then.

Sorry, I think it’s performative. Does my head in. Young people, fine. Middle aged people, ugh

Don't you realise how very ageist you're being? What's your cut-off point for OK to hold hands, may I ask?

I find it interesting that so many people on here claim to do it all the time yet in real life I almost never see anyone holding hands!

For the first 8 years my other half never held my hand. 😂

We do, believe me or don't makes no odds

Lovely to hear that we’re not that strange.

Thank you everyone, sorry to hear that some have received a negative reaction.

The only time we let go is if we stop to talk to someone. If it’s one person I feel it isolates them, and if another couple that aren’t, I feel self conscious.

Where did I say I didn’t believe you (or anyone else)?

I’m just saying these responses don’t reflect what I see around me, but then again I find that’s often the case with MN threads!

We always do when walking anywhere. In our mid fifties and have been together since we were 18/19.

We always walk the same side of each other. It started because I carry my bag on the other shoulder and it got in the way so I always walk on the right and he holds my left hand with his right.

I’ve noticed that both of our DC hold
their spouse’s hand when they’re out walking too! Must seem normal to them I guess.

What an odd, prim response.

So young people can never be "performative" but middle aged people apparently always are?

We sometimes hold hands while walking but DP is a lot taller than me so my arm ends up bent up a bit, so I feel like a kid holding their dad’s hand! We hold hands on the sofa too or one has a hand on the others arm or leg. It’s just nice to feel connected.

XP used to offer his elbow for me to hold while he had his hands in his pockets. It seemed nice at the time, but now it just seems like maybe he didn’t make any effort?!