Spain, like Italy, is a land where everyone kisses, embraces and stands and chats in close proximity on a daily basis. I get, or should I say got kissed every day. Colleagues, friends, friends of friends, new friends and so on. The vast majority of Spanish people like being together. If not, they are seen as a bit weird. They must be the most sociable people on the planet.You can sit next to a lake and if a northern European comes along they might nod if you are lucky, and then walk to the other side of the lake. A Spanish person will almost always sit next to you. They may even offer you some of their food and if things go really well you will end up being friends or at least acquaintances. I'm quite a tactile person but normally with people I know so it took a couple of years but in the end I gave into the fact that people would end up more or less sitting on my lap or have their nose sticking into my ear whenever I went out to socialise. I knew I had fully integrated the day I felt the presence of a body behind me, some other persons back was touching mine and so without an ounce of shame I leant into this back for about a minute, in the way you might with an old friend from your childhood, until I realised I had no idea who it was. I stopped, stood up straight and apologised to a huge fella who thought it was funny and said it was fine, don't worry about it. This will be one of the most difficult things to adjust to in the coming days, months, years, not being able to stand near people. Where you can walk into many banks and post offices and there is no plastic screen separating you from the clerk. Little children run up to you and their parents never glare at you when you say hello to their child and start ruffling their hair. Nobody ever complains if I or Mr van de Van start chatting with someone's kid. Spanish people can be loud, boisterous, bon vivants, gregarious, warm hearted, passionate and spontaneous. They love old people and children. Young people are not demonised. Everyone lives on the streets, the elderly sit on street benches in the summer watching the whole of society play out in front of their eyes. This is going to be an enormous challenge for at least another year to maintain what is essentially a warm, civilised society. The alternative is not worth contemplating. Spain has its share of dickheads and arseholes like elsewhere. There will be no time for power crazy people, politicians or other maniacs. People who once given the power will almost certainly be useless. Every day decisions will be made at a local level where common sense will prevail and help will come from anyone else who shares that sense of solidarity. No one will care which nationality or race or creed it comes from. I made my life here and I have no intention of leaving.