What is the true meaning of ';take care'; to you?

ive heard this phrase so many times in my life, i became used to it. but i never knew the true meaning of the phrase. most recently, a older friend (not old, but older than me, a teen) living in another country ended an email with ';Take care!!';, which reminded me that i still did not know exactly what it meant. i looked it up, and found that it can mean ';goodbye, cya later!';. But not in the case i would think, as we live in different countries, and will probably never see each other again. so, just wondering, what would ';Take care!!'; to you mean, in this situation? im just curious since ive never really known or understood what this common phrase really means. thanks(:What is the true meaning of ';take care'; to you?
I think it is effectively a short version of ';Take care of yourself'; used as a version of ';goodbye.';What is the true meaning of ';take care'; to you?
Take care, take care of yourself, take good care of yourself (stay healthy, be good, so I can see you again :P, basically)





Take it easy
it is a short version of take care of yourself.


Simply put , because that person cares about you.





I can understand how the wording can be misunderstood by other countries and nationalities. But here in Australia thats what it means.
it means 'don't die and good bye'