@dlowan,
I live in two different milieus. In my liberal, educated, mostly white New England circle, people are pretty formal unless there is an established friendship. You shake hands with people until you are close... after which a hug is generally exchanged.
When I am among Latinos, affection is much more freely given. At social events, I will give a kiss on the cheek to pretty much any woman who is an acquaintance. The masculine greetings never include kisses, but the handshakes/hugs are far more expressive (in an appropriately manly sort of way).
I spent a couple of weeks in Jordan with friends I had met in the US. It is customary for male friends to walk down the street hand in hand (although you never see a man and a women hand in hand even if they are in a relationship). My friend reached for my hand, to which I must have instinctively cringed. He then graciously understood I was an American (without taking offense). Being raised as an American man, this would have been very uncomfortable (even intellectually understanding the cultural meaning of the gesture).
There are different social norms in each culture. I tend to follow them unless I have a good reason to break with tradition.
