Personally U dont' care what other ppl think. It's somethign that I love and something I can afford. I'm a bit nervous when I start dating someone, and show them my collection (4 display cases full...), and I figure that if they can't handle it, then they aren't going to be around for a long time.
Under no circumstances would I "hide" my collection for any reason. I'm not ashamed of it, and it makes me too happy every day to walk by it and look in.
My girlfriend (and ex's) weren't into anime, but neither did they chastise me for my collection. They understood that it was important to me, and that was enough.
Now, if I only I could get my current girlfriend to watch anime, and play Halo with me, I'd be in heaven
Peace!