I totally agree, midLGW. That was a very good post. It's not about hats or other people's opinions of you. Stop worrying. If you do the best job you can, and are proud of yourself, you don't need a hat or other people's rubber stamps to underline it.
I really love my job (well, like everything, it has it's moments!
), and I also love coming home and my life outside my job. Try not to live in this current problem for most of the time, or it'll be difficult to keep a balanced view on it, and you will worry unnecessarily. Take opinions and criticism from people you trust and admire.
This dispute will end, and the nastiness will stop. The bitter people who won't let it go, or try to find a realistic solution, will be the real losers. Who wants to live like that indefinitely?