I'm in exactly the same situation, although the issue you raised hasn't come to a head quite yet because I've been too sick to socialise and most of the people I see in any given week are medical doctors and specialists, psychiatrist, 2 psychologists and then mental health group meetings/presentations of different subjects. If I go to the local theatre for a show or to the cinema, it's always alone. The family in the twon I live in have been dreadfull about spreading gossip about me and I am moving to a new town shortly.

And that's where I will come up against exactly what you are dealing with. I'm just starting a part time Uni course so if I am able to continue with that, I will be saying "I am studying". But I'll also just say to people "I'm not working right now". Bang that's it. If they ask for further information I'll just say, "Let's wait to get to know each other better". I've suffered so badly from the small town gossip syndrome that I don't want it to happen again.