Taking people at face value...?

What you have described about yourself boils down to simply getting along in life. Most people take the route you do - showing trust first, suspicion only when true colors show. But it is also intelligent to be on guard to some degree - after all, there are many dishonest people out to trick and scam you, as we all know. I wouldn't walk through life Pollyanna-style, trusting everyone no matter what. You don't have to be THAT open and trusting, or THAT touchy-feely nice. Most people don't want you up close and personal - just decent and trustworthy.