Watertiger suggests this illustration of my life from the New Yorker.
And while Mrs. Atrios generally understands, it's always a blast when I meet new people at social gatherings. Since this is the U.S., "what do you do?" generally comes up fairly quickly in conversation.
The script is something like this:
Them: So, what do you do?
Me: I, er, write about politics and media on the internet.
Them: [quizzical look]
Me: I'm a blogger.
Them: [facial expression reflecting the thought "this guy must be a Total Fucking Loser"]
Them: Oh, uh... that's interesting... Umm... you do that for a living?
Me: Yes, mostly.
Them: So, uh... how do you make money doing that?
Me: Advertising, mostly
Them: Oh, so, uh, that actually makes money?
Me: Yes, it isn't bad.
Them: Oh. I see. [backs away slowly]
I've had dozens of these conversations and they almost always turn to money very quickly. People want to know if I'm as much of a loser as they think I am, and they only way I can convince them I'm not is if I convincingly claim that I actually make money doing what I do.