Can you be logged into Gmail without being available for G Chat?

I use my gmail account frequently and have just started using g chat once in a while. I'm finding though, that I don't want to have to chat with people just because I happen to be reading my emails. I don't want to block these people, but I'm confused about what the etiquette is. Are there settings I can switch on so that I'm not available for chatting, or so that it looks like I'm not in my gmail account when I really am?

Can you be logged into Gmail without being available for G Chat?
you can set your status on gchat either "invisible" or "out of chat"
Reply:Im pretty sure on the left hand side where it shows your contacts that there's a status button. Just click it to show that you are unavailable or offline for chat. If that doesnt help then I would just browse the settings and see what you can find