Yeah, I can see how shop keepers wouldn't want to offend anyone. That said, I do receive comments from them on occasion. Now that I think about it, most of the comments that I do get (in a face-to-face manner) have come from those tending a store or stocking shelves, etc.

It is too bad that your wife isn't more comfortable with the kilt in regard to your wearing it, Graham. It never helps having a spouse who affects your behaviour in a way that you have to censor your ordinary reactions to things.

My wife is perfectly comfortable with my kilted activities. No problems there. One difference we have is that she is not so social as me. My first instinct when a new neighbor arrives is to take over a pie or a nut roll, etc. as a little welcome. For some reason she is very uncomfortable with this to the point of discouraging it.

A number of years ago I took her cue and did not do my customary meet-and-greet for a Japanese couple who had arrived a few streets over and who I was told about through a mutual aquaintance. Long story made short, when I did meet them a few years later I found out how lonely they were and I felt bad about having failed to stop by when instinct had told me it would be the right thing to do. I took them a pie and since that time we have all been exceptionally good friends despite their having moved to another area last year.

Married life is, of course, a compromise. But there are times that you have to be true to yourself. Hopefully, as time passes, your wife will become more comfortable with your kilt wearing. Hopefully mine will become a little more outgoing!

Mychael