I'm pretty much in the same boat as Milagros. Goes back at least to my earliest memories, probably about 2. I'm pretty sure my family hadn't moved to Ohio yet, and we did that when I was nearly 3. But I remember digging it then. In elementary school would want to tie up and tickle the girls in my class (bondage was just a means to hold them still mind you, wasn't dreaming of shibari or anything). But as far back as my memories go, so goes my love of tickling.
You may want to ask the sex question on a more BDSM oriented site. And many heterosexuals don't consider it the definitive act. Many think that oral and even handjobs are sex.
There is a Biblical view, "They shall become one flesh". It's an act of returning back to the original creation, one body. The two becoming one. Also, it is the only natural act that can create life. So, even from a non-Biblical point of view, there is still an argument to be made.
But anal sex is still sex, and I've known more than one straight chick who was into the backdoor.
Now for my opinion. And I'm probably the only one here with this particular opinion. So if you disagree, that's fine. I ain't telling you you're wrong.
Vaginal sex is the original design spec. So, it's automatically definitely sex. Penetration is required in my mind for something to be designated sex, so anal qualifies as well. Oral doesn't because even tho it's penetrative in a way, it's designed to have a broad range of stuff going in. If you consider a willie going in as sex, then you would your carrots, your steak, your silverware, etc. I know it's for a different purpose, but the mouth is a multi-purpose entry door. This is different from the vagina which is designed more or less to have one type of thing go in, and the butt which is designed as an exhaust port.
Not looking to debate anything, just giving an opinion, which is what she asked for. I think. Whatever you believe is sex...then for you, it is sex. The above is just my personal definition. That's what it is for me.
Now making love doesn't even require being in the same time zone, but that's a different question entirely....
Christopher