Half Full or Half Empty?

I've been asked quite a few times in my life if I am an optimist or pessimist. My response to that question, as long as I can remember, has always been

"That depends."

I always got a confused look with that answer. Then I would make my answer into a complete sentence.

"That depends on the situation I am looking at."

That's usually when they rephrase it to the proverbial question...
"Do you see the glass half full, or half empty?"

Again, I would respond with,
"That depends."

And again, I would get the confused look. (This is a fun because the asker was expecting a simple answer, you know, "the optimist" in THIS situation.) And this is were I like to explain my vague answer.

"That depends...was the glass full and it was emptied halfway, or was it empty and filled up halfway?"

Do you have that confused look now? Because the asker usually still does...aah, the suspense...great, isn't it.

You see, "the glass" is the situation that I am questioning. the liquid inside the glass is the progression of that situation. (You with me?)

If, say, the glass represents say my company here. And the liquid is progress that I am making in getting it off the ground. Well, then, since I started this company with just a vision and a little friendly advise (glass empty), and now it is starting to show promise (glass being filled) ...then the glass is half full.

Now, say, the glass is Britney Spears' career, before her new album, (Ouch, I know, I shouldn't be harsh. But...) and the liquid is how well it's going. Britney was the reigning Princess of Pop (glass full) before K-Fed and everything else that came along for the ride...and now, well, it's not going so hot. (glass being emptied) Now it's being filled again, but you get it.

So, to me, "it depends." I am neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I am logical, I have to analyze the situation before I can decide whether the glass is "half full, or half empty."

Let me know what you think...how do you answer that question?