Affectations

Or further thoughts on the spinster thing,
I am knitting some cable socks at the moment and have been reading depressing French literature (is there any other kind?). While I enjoy these things, they are things that I deliberately decided to develop an interest in. So I have been pondering the question, when (if ever) does an affected persona become who you really are?
I mean, the things you do to cultivate an image, especially a self-image, but do they ever become real?
When my sister and I were living together she decided that she should develop a taste for gin and tonic. So she brought a bottle of gin, and by the end of it she liked them. Now, about 7 years later, she will often drink them from choice. I on the other hand, steadfastly maintain that I can't stand gin, when in fact for years I have not totally hated it, and can quite enjoy the odd G&T. Sometimes I suspect that despite our stated positions, we actually feel pretty much the same about the stuff. Of course I am probably doing my sister an injustice. But I am just questioning a lot of my tastes.
I mean do I really prefer dark ale to lager, or is it all just beer? And do I actually LIKE beer, or do I just drink it 'cause it is alcoholic?
The only one that I can without a doubt admit is pure affectation is my fondness for salted liquorice.