Surprising Changes

[JungianZoe]

Thanks! That is what I am thinking right now too hehe. I suppose I can always come up with excuses too.

No excuses!  (And this from the excuse queen herself).  If this is absolutely the path that you feel is right for you, you will thank yourself later for starting as early as you could.  Take it from someone who delayed HRT for five years because I thought getting married would make it all go away.  I wish I'd started in 2005 when I was still 27 instead of starting at 32.

But again, only you know if this is right for you!

[Constance]

My wife and I saw The Deathly Hallows Part 2 yesterday, and I spent about 1/3 to 1/2 of the movie sobbing quietly. She just sat there watching it. My whole body was shaking and I had tears streaming down my face. A year ago, this wouldn't have happened.

[regan]

Should I delay starting? I don't want people questioning me.[/color]

People should feel free to question you AND you should be able to answer those questions (mostly)...and they're going to question you anyways, so there's no sense delaying it.  Further, people have hidden hormonal changes quite literally for YEARS.

[madirocks]

People should feel free to question you AND you should be able to answer those questions (mostly)...and they're going to question you anyways, so there's no sense delaying it.  Further, people have hidden hormonal changes quite literally for YEARS.

I wish it was that simple for me.  The predicament I'm in is if they were to know, I would lose my home, job, car, and the only good reason to have stayed employed for as long as I have; free university education. 

But you're right, they do already question me (my personality), which is okay. I wish I could start now, but I think I will try to stay on the somewhat safe side and begin in January. You're right, I shouldn't delay it any further.

[regan]

I wish it was that simple for me.  The predicament I'm in is if they were to know, I would lose my home, job, car, and the only good reason to have stayed employed for as long as I have; free university education. 

Only you know the answer, but do you know this or is it just what you fear?

Speaking as a government employee, its incredibly hard to fire you once you've made it past your probationary period.  So if getting fired isn't a rational fear, then how do you stand to lose everything else?

Another one of my famous analogies...

Ships are safe in the harbors, but that's not what they were made for.

Are you going to stay in the harbor, or are you going to venture out to the open ocean?

[madirocks]

http://www.hrc.org/issues/1544.htm

quote from another page;

"The new study reviews earlier research concluding that transsexuals can be a risk to military effectiveness, in part because their transformations entail higher-than-average anxiety and depression. Currently, U.S. military regulations regard non-traditional gender identities as medical or personality disorders which constitute a basis for separation. The Army Medical Services Standards of Medical Fitness, for instance, cites "transsexualism, exhibitionism, transvestitism, voyeurism, and other paraphilias" as "causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction." Those who transition during their enlistment are subject to discharge under enlistment violations, as well as through rules relating to homosexuality, cross-dressing or medical or psychological unsuitability."

I'm most certainly ready to move out of the harbour, but I definitely need to pick the right time.

[regan]

You only mentioned it was a "government job", not that you were in the military.  That changes things... 

[Bird]

In that case

You need to consider a carrer change

[Joelene9]

Shades,
  Thus far: Your HRT regimen, body type, hair, and symptoms are identical to mine at two months!  When I saw your earlier avatar, I though that I was looking at myself 14 years earlier when my hair had the same color!  But you got a smaller, prettier face.  As with you, I have gotten some real surprises from this experience that I didn't expect.  My hair is growing out straighter thus far since I cut it short for my brother's wedding, I am feeling better about my hair growing longer now.  Shades, just let things come by, don't anticipate them! 
  Joelene

[madirocks]

You only mentioned it was a "government job", not that you were in the military.  That changes things... 

Yes sorry, I didn't want to say hehe. I'm leaving the beginning of 2012. And now I think about it, I will mostly be gone on vacation anyways. So, I suppose I don't have much to worry about since nobody will see me very much.

I do hope though that it'll be enough change before the fall semester.

[justmeinoz]

As you have less than a year to go, it's a different matter to having just joined up. I'd just put in an extra bit of effort so that no-one will question your commitment, and stuff things up for you.
Pity you aren't in the ADF, you'd probably be able to get SRS under Medicare for free, and stay in.  The US military generally looks after it's people a lot better than ours, but the ADF is at least a bit more enlightened in this area.

Karen.