My wife also feels more free to touch in public, and for the same reason. She has also used the word "safe" to describe how she needs to feel. It is my impression that her view is at least in part related to childhood sexual abuse. In spite of years of therapy, she has not be able to talk about it with me. Perhaps there isn't much to say to me, if she said it all to the therapist.
But the thing is, in spite of patience and many years, she has never been able to moved beyond this withdrawal and need to feel safe to the point of avoiding sex completely.
