I don't think people expecting or assuming you to pay for them need to be cut loose immediately; my husband could have done that but stuck it out to have a conversation about it. Actually I think if we would chat about these expectations more (with you fully allowed to then state your case for the importance of paying separately) there would be fewer of these harmful/wrong assumptions going around.

I did get a chuckle out of your last paragraph. Had anyone ever bought me a drink I think it would have made me more nervous than chatty. Probably because I really do feel some people (not all) DO have expectations when paying. And I have never been good about meeting anyone else's expectations. :)

Thanks for the thoughtful response!