Just a acquainted relationship

There are many a times when we try to maintain a kind of non official contact with a person from whom we expect some kind of help at some point of time. Its like having a back door entry in the standard process. It can be in the form of casual "I am alive" or "occasional greetings" kind of communications. But at times it becomes difficult to draw a line on what is "casual" and what is "personal" in such a relationship. It becomes rather more difficult when it becomes unclear if the other person is just trying to maintain such a contact or is genuinely maintaining the contact as a good acquaintance. The problem like is not able to directly clarify it, for if the contact is just a non official "official" contact then you are going over board messing up the relation. If its a genuine friendship you may end up hurting the other person. Rather tricky situation to get it clarified with out blowing it our completely.