You know, Bike Chick, your example from the locker room makes me think that I must be confusing to people (I often have that same reaction to what you experienced). I love fashion, I like having my nails done, and I like to get dressed up, too. But... I love getting sweaty and dirty, never minded peeing in the woods, and when I was a kid, I spent a large amount of time leading the boys in my neighborhood around, playing soldier . Even though I like some traditionally feminine things, I've never been a girly-girl.
I've often made the comment that when I am in large groups, in social settings, I usually end up talking to the men, unless there are women who are into riding, etc., there. I think some of this is because, even at this stage of my life, the women are *still* bragging about what their kids are doing. Last summer, I was getting a pedicure at one of those small little shops you see in strip malls, no fancy spa. In walks this woman who has kids the same age as mine. They weren't friends, really, but went to religious school and high school together. I tried to hide behind a magazine, but she came up to me and started in, asking if I knew that "*her son* was married, her daughter was getting her Master's at Julliard?" I squelched the strong urge to reply that my son was off interrogating Iraquis and the other one actually was happy with his B.A. and wasn't in grad school.