That is so funny that you started this thread!! I was thinking about this last weekend.

You know you're a bellydancer when...
you are standing in line for Wild Thornberry ride at King's Island and you think "this music would make a great sword piece!"

Constantly being in creative mode, ie "This would make a good accessory/ I can use this material to have a skirt- top-harem pants made/but my hip scarves are a different shade of orange so I can add this one to my collection cause you can never have to many hip scarves/ what color should I polish my toes." Quotes are mine. :-)

But best-est of all, when my 80 year old mother says proudly to family and friends "You know Caerann is a belly dancer now." She has been the only other dancer in my family having performed tap in local USO shows with my grandma, aunt and uncle.

We did a "radical physical change" for a day in my performance workshop class (acting for non-actors). I dressed up in all my tribal gear and walked around campus all day...now THAT'S when you know you're a belly dancer!

When you see a stray piece of fabric and your first instinct is to tie it around your hips. :)

---when you look at upolstery and think - I could use that tassell/fabric in this belt...
---you pick up every tank top in Express that has sequins or gems around the neckline...
---you start to buy clothing for its versatility aspect - you can wear it to work AND when dancing!
---you start to wear tribla jewelry to work because, well - it's the stuff you really like!
---you watch diligently for Target's "World Accents" decorating line to go on sale.
---you are constantly trying to devise a more efficient method of storing your costuming and supplies (usually through a combination of stored away/home decor methods)
--You think large mirrors is the perfect answer for that blank wall in your new home.
---you look for homes based on the space to practice in.
---You don't have parties without Middle Eastern Food anymore.
---You're a member of 80 different bellydance tribes on Tribe.net, but barely read two.
---Your brain is constantly devising methods of freeing yourself from the mundane job and dancing for a living
---Your SO learns to smoke hookah and agrees to learn Arabic with you.

Ok, I'm done for now.

...when you cannot figure out how to put on makeup and look 'normal' anymore
...when 75%+ of your music collection is not mainstream anything
...when it's your turn to pick music for the ride to xxxx, it's always Middle Eastern
...when you completely forget that tattoos, nose rings, bellyrings, etc. really *aren't* the norm
....when you start incorporating words like 'habibi' and 'aiwa' into everyday speech

and that's just a start!

When you go to see Spamalot (or any play) and start to zahgareet instead of clap.

Guilty as charged!

:o)