A Good Loss?

Hey,
  I just had one of my worst nights ever in poker (in terms of the
cards I was getting) and only ended up down $1 in a .50 / $1 home
game.  I never hit my draw cards, only flopped top 2 pair once (and
lost to 3 two's that a guy got on the river) and never made a 5 card
hand the entire night, yet I was actually up $2 at one point (before
taking a bad beat on a semi-bluff where I actually caught what I
thought was an out card.  Turned out my kings up over tens, of which
the ten hit on the river, would lose to a guy holding pocket jacks.  O
well, that was my poor read, and that guy had luck with him all night
long.  Still, I hope the luck keeps him coming back so i can take it
back from him in the long run).
  I don't know why, but despite being down I actually feel I played
one of the better games I've had at that table.  I didn't pull a lot
of pots, but didn't lose my head and make stupid moves.  There are a
few hands I would have played differently, but my bluffing percentage
was proper (I had been known as a rock-tight player until 2 weeks ago,
now they can't read me nearly as well).  Anyhow, don't know why I'm
posting this except to say that I'm a MUCH better poker player than 3
months ago, where a night like that could have easily cost me a ton of
money (one of my friends had equally bad luck and ended up down $7
instead of my $1).  Luck-nothing, if my up nights are as good as
they've been and my off nights only cost me the price of one big bet
I'm all for it.

Any of you guys had nights where you were down but still felt good
coming off the table?  What about tough folds that you were proud of? 
I think one of the toughest things to learn has got to be feeling good
about what seems to be a losing move or night, but which could have
been a LOT worse if you weren't as skilled or focused as you were.