Thanks, guys.  As I said, I'm happy with my choices.   Self-deprecating humor got me through the first couple months of the beard journey.

I ran into a butt-ugly anorexic neighbor in the grocery store the other day who saw not only my beard but my new and rather large tattoos.  She really started carrying on.  Kicking her in the crotch was also my first instinct, but I just asked if we could save the discussion for another day.

I guess you can't please everyone.