Interesting discussion.
I am a "Farm girl" by birth. If it was gross, dirty or disgusting, I had it on my hands, clothes, in my hair and even occasionally on my face (older brothres are mean!)
I can muck out a stable, milk a cow (I still maintain milk consumption would decress significantly if more people actually knew what got knocked, dropped accidently or kicked by the cow into their milk before it was pastureized), clean and pluck a chicken without batting an eyelash. I am well aware that my beef, pork and poultry were once alive and kicking, I've helped skin, butcher and cure more than my share, and even now I can still toss a full bale of hay up to the loft from a barn floor.
I can do all these things, but I choose not too. I would rather be getting a manicure or shopping with my daughter than snagging a nail on baling twine. Nature is a wonderful thing, and I appreciate it very much... outside where it belongs.. rather than being tracked into my house, ground into my clothes, or picked out of my hair. It's not that I find dirt and bugs disgusting, I would just preffer that they stay in their place and I will stay in mine, the less we interact the better off we all are. There is nothing in the world more relaxing than an early morning mist drifting through the forest, while a deer grazes beside the river that snakes through the trees and the suns first light glistens off a dew covered spider web... from the other side of a bay window while I enjoy my morning coffee.
Does this make me a "girly-girl"? You bet! And I am not afraid to admit it. On the other hand, I am not afraid to get dirty when neccessary.
So what drew me to CP's? I really have no idea. That they aren't your average houseplants maybe.. or it could be that they are strikingly beautiful in their own right. But I am certainly not going to be put off by the fact that they eat things that personally give me the creeps. Such is life.
Someone way back on the first page (can't remember who) mentioned that women with children tend to do "kid" stuff, while men with children tend to leave that to their S.O. and get a hobby. This is for the most part true and to be totally honest, most women encourage the men in their life to presue their hobbies to the fullest extent.
Maybe we are just inherantly more supportive and nurtureing and get a sense of satisfaction out of knowing that we are encouraging the people we love to do what makes them happy... or maybe, as my mother told me years ago "It keeps him busy and out of my hair so I can do what I want!"
Experience tells me it's some of both. We do get a sense of satisfation from knowing our family is comfortable, happy and enjoying life, and we will do our best to help ensure that happens, yet at the same time... My mother wasn't wrong!
We love the men in our life, really we do! We are glad they are there and we enjoy our time with them... but really there is only so much "guy stuff" the average woman can deal with! I'm not talking about differing interests and tastes either. Men are men and women are women (for the most part) as much as we enjoy eachothers company, we need time with out eachother just as much. So we encourage them in their hobbies, and spend time with the kids, and sometimes.. that magical moment happens, where the men are busy with their hobbies, and the kids are playing or busy with their own hobbies... It's wonderful! And makes the time we spend with our men and children that much more special as well.