I didn't look at this thread when I got home from dinner last night, so to comment on Veronica's question about the 30" pants; when I said "regular" pants, I meant pants not from Athleta, not "regular" sizes, as opposed to petites. Most petite pants are now made in 30" lengths, especially the jeans. Regular sizes are, as you said, 32-33 inches.
GLC, I have a couple of petite sized skirts from Athleta, so they do make them. Not a lot, but some. My bigger gripe is with Title 9. I love their casual clothes, but they have no x-smalls and their smalls are often size 6-8. I noticed in the catalog I got yesterday there were a few more x smalls, mostly from Mountain Hardware (not their own brand), which is a brand that fits me.
I don't mind bringing a pair of nice work or dressy pants to be hemmed, but since I am buying petite sized clothing, I don't think I should have to do this. I certainly don't want to have to pay to get athletic clothes or jeans hemmed!
And yes, my DH has the same problem. He is 5' 7" and weighs 148. He is very muscular. While he has no issues getting pants, since they come in waist/length sizes (although a lot of stores don't have the shorter lengths and smaller waist sizes), his problem is with shirts and jackets. He has to buy all slim fit dress shirts and now, at age 53 has suddenly become a "small" in a lot of brands, when he pretty much was a medium all of his life. And a lot of men's clothes don't even come in smalls anymore... yet they have the 2XL sizes.
What I loved about Spain is that I felt tall compared to everyone there!