I don’t think there’s probably a single one of us that doesn’t enjoy the sensation of touch, whether it is from a friend, lover, or family member (hopefully these are not all the same person), but how many of us actually cuddle anymore? Sometimes I’m an old married man in terms of, ‘getting my cuddle on’, and don’t take the time or opportunity to simply enjoy the closeness of another person without pretense of sex or other intimacy. However, the good folks over at CuddleParty.com have apparently got themselves quite the phenomenon established.

This is not a new concept, as it was conceived in 2004 by Reid Mihalko and Marcia Baczynski as a way to bring people together for soothing sessions of touch without moving past that into the realm of eroticism. “Sounds like an opportunity for an informal orgy to me!” you might be saying to yourself, my astute and perceptive reader, but real, moderated Cuddle Parties do not allow anything of the sort to happen. While there may be some more informal events that result in more than just snuggling next to someone else, the official gatherings are overseen by trained “lifeguards” that ensure any overt sexual energy is safely and harmlessly dispersed without anyone getting wound up too tight. They have quite the FAQ and rules list that details the expectations and questions that arise from such possibilities.

This idea of a group of people getting together merely to touch and be touched has fascinated me for a long time. I have long been someone who has a, “touch tank” that needs to get filled from time to time to keep my sense of wholeness strong, and so the thought of having an event where this takes place in large numbers is rather intriguing. Sure, there’s a part of my mind that embraces the idea of canoodling with some attractive person of the double-X chromosome type, but even Cuddle Party accepts the idea that being attracted to others is all a part of the system. After all, who doesn’t like curling up with a hottie?

It certainly does edge on the realm of “Hippie Land” and approaches the idea of human interaction from a very different angle, but at the same time, it brings to mind a lot of interesting thoughts. For instance, would the
human
race be
better off if
we touched
each other more?would the human race be better off if we touched each other more? I think it’s pretty damned hard to be mad or upset with someone when they are in your arms. Office politics just wouldn’t be the same if we greeted coworkers with hugs and sat around board rooms on beanbags and sharing a quilt, right? These are extremes, of course, but the thought of letting closeness that is brought out in a Cuddle Party, between absolute strangers, trickle down into ‘normal’ society is fascinating.

Think of the entrepreneurial possibilities for a Cuddle Parlor! I think there would be pretty good money in establishing a business where you can arrive, change into a pair of PJs, and choose some employees to cuddle with. Perhaps you want a half hour session of nestling underneath a warm quilt with an attractive member of the opposite sex, or maybe you’d rather pick a few people and form a puppy pile. Instead of the brothel idea to provide sex to its clients, you’d be providing non-sexual touch and reassurance in a physical way. You fill some rooms with mattresses and quilts, some with beanbags, hang some hammocks, and sleeping bags are available just around the corner. People who are trained to cuddle only, dispel any sexual overtones, and guide newbies in the art of snuggling would be available to help remove the stresses of the world for awhile in a warm embrace. The options are both breathtaking and endless in the same shot.

I think participating in one of these parties would be a great experience; of course, provided that my wife was along and up to the game. (I’m not about to offend She Who Makes Life Worth Living or make her jealous.) That being said, I sincerely doubt that there will be any of these cropping up in the Midwest where people generally follow the beaten path and men are fond of the phrase, “I told you I loved you when I married you; if anything changes, I’ll let you know.” It does, however, sound like something that could more easily happen in a liberal college environment where boundaries and societal taboos are stretched a bit more than in the regular world. (Come to think of it, I think I had some cuddlefest moments back in the day, but they were usually me trying to hang on to my roommate because my knees had become pudding-ified with too much vodka.)

So, how about you? Do you think you would ever dare participate in one of these events? Do you consider yourself the cuddly sort or would this completely violate your personal space and make your skin crawl?

The world tends to be big, nasty, and unforgiving, but maybe in the solace of a warm room, a pair of pajamas, and the arms of another human, we each could escape for a moment and just be. Maybe someday — we all can.