Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
I generally follow the same pattern as you guys by giving vague answers. It isn't necessarily rude and they realise that you're a private person and don't like to divulge into personal matters. If you do, then they'll go a step further and ask more after which it become uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to avoid. So its best to set your limits early on. Thankfully my colleagues aren't such a nosey bunch so don't ask private questions that much :)