WHAT IS THE FASCINATION WITH COUSINS?

Can someone tell me the reason for the fascination that so many people on this board always seem to have for their cousins? I have several 2nd, 3rd, 4th (or whatever) cousins in this town and in the next town - cousins by distant blood relation or by marriage. We are all adults. Some of us might be aware that we could be "cousins" to some degree or the other, but we have never had any desire to socialize with each other, and we would not recognize each other if we met on the street. That is how just about how everybody whom I know regard their distant cousins.

The only cousins I was ever aware of when I was growing up were my first cousins (the children of my parents' brothers and sisters), and they lived far away and I was never around them much. I can't say I missed their company, or even thought about them much.

Many people post that they are in love with their cousin, or they have the hots for their cousin, or their cousin did something to hurt their feelings. I do not understand WHY they want to spend so much of their time with their distant cousins, and make them such an important part of their lives.