[pct-l] Handshakes

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I share the same anecdotal experience as you. Similar childhood and I  
never get sick. I'm going to have to take some "mental health" time  
if I ever want to use my sick leave.

All of you worrying about touching other hiker's germy hands are  
worrying too much. Hikers know about the fist-bump and pouring gorp  
out into your hand. They don't try to shake your hand, usually. If  
one does and you are thinking of all those germs, no biggie. Just use  
some hand sanitizer.

On Feb 10, 2012, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> When I was a child, and another kid in the area got ill,
> parents would phone round and take their own kids to play with the ill
> child (e.g. mumps, Measles, etc.).  We played outside (eating  
> worms, etc.)
> doing all sorts of things that would have modern day parents  
> frantic and we
> survived.  These days with such playing in mud, etc. discouraged  
> and living
> in sealed filtered disinfected environments as well as talking to  
> friends
> over computers from centrally heated rooms rather than going  
> outside and
> meeting face to face seems to correlate with big increased  
> susceptibility
> to catching bugs.
>
> Whilst it is true that I've not been ill for years (in 40 years of  
> working
> I've had maybe 2 days off sick), that is just "anecdotal".