For some people no amount of subtlety and wit will ever be sufficient.
That's why I don't really try to beat around the proverbial bush when they're genuinely asking "the question". I assume they're asking because they want to know, not because they're looking for a witty punch line. And since I'm not terribly secretive (or ashamed) of anything, I tell them. Heck, half the time my wife beats me to the punch. I suspect she sort of enjoys it.

There might come a day when the situation dictates being a little more private about how to answer "the question". But I find that in those situations, most people are polite enough not to ask.