Hi, I'm a USCF over-the-board (OTB) 1600 rated player.

I've read many times on the internet that until you get to somewhere around 1800, you should only play aggresive and tactical games, like 1.e4 for white.

However, I have a calm personality and would MUCH prefer a solid opening, such as  caro-kann instead of sicilian and semi-slav instead of king's indian. 

Should I just follow what others say (richard teichmann in peculiar) and play tactical/aggresive games or follow my style and do more solid games?

If I should continue on aggresive games, what would be a good defense to the following:

1.d4  (I'm thinking of king's indian defense or benoni, which is better?)

1.e4 (sicilian but which one? There's just so many!!)

Thank you!

Definately follow your style. As long as you have tried aggressive play, and don't like it, you are fine to play what you want.

the semi-slav can be extremely complex (my USCF is 1642). Honestly the semi-slav is a little over my head but I play it anyway. I really think the semi-tarrasch is the best way to meet the queens gambit, for someone at our level. I like 1...e5 after 1.e4, but the caro-kann should work pretty well. First it's not played all that often at our level, I've only played against it once in a rated game. I know other players who have also say they rarely see it. I'm currently spending sometime studying the sicilian, so I assume that most players at our level will have at least some level of preparation against the sicilian. Also if you play the caro-kann and the slav, you can meet the english(1.c4) with one (1...c6), and white will most likely transpose into either the caro-kann or the slav.

thanks for the advice, so are you suggesting i should go for my style or not?

I'm guessing yes:)