How important is it to make contact with your significant other if you work together but don't live together?

We have IM at work.. cell phones,desk phones, email... I always seem to be the one who initiates the contact. He says it's becuase he's just overwhelmed at work. He is very attentive outside of work, but my point is... It only takes a few seconds to say hello.. Am I way off base & expecting too much? Or do we have a failure to communicate here?