.Mac and keychain

[Google Kreme]

OK, so I gave up and renewed .Mac afterall, but now I'm having a  
problem.

Despite my .mac login and password info being in the OS X keychain,  
every time I startup Mail.app, it asks for the password.  If I don't  
provide it, it does not connect to .Mac until I DO provide it.   
checking or unchecking "store in keychain" makes no difference.

And the same thing is happening with iChat.

Solutions?

-- 
I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come  
you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely  
alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?