often seen in the street without a hat

If you're interested in more detail on optimism/pessimism - I would put us both as 'realists*' (though I think it's hard to tell from just 'knowing' you on lj). But I have been told by numerous people that if you say 'oh, I'm not really an optimist or a pessimist, I suppose I'm something more like a realist?' then you're probably a pessimist. *shrug*

* though 'I'm a realist' always sounds a bit pretentious.