interesting....
pre-HRT, i lived in a stereotypical Stoner House for three or four years... at first i joined in because i didn't want to be left out of my only friends lives, but i rapidly discovered that tactile femininity the OP mentioned... and not only that, but as i embraced the necessity and unavoidability of transition and started dressing, etc, i even started -seeing- myself more femininely[word?] whilst high. i could stand in front of the mirror and see through that male mask like the mask it was. i won't say that's what made me decide to finally do it, but it had a role to play in my confidence that i might actually be able to pull it off.
not far into HRT my circumstances changed dramatically and as a result my smoking pretty much instantly stopped. i do and will continue to partake when i see my old housemates, but that's only once every few months now. what i have noticed on those few occassions is that it takes FAR less to get ridiculously gone, and the tactile sense has intensified to such a point that it can be off putting; i spend less time enjoying the mental effects and more time worrying that my body parts are all about to explode.
when i do end up in front of a mirror i still notice an increased perception of my femininity; last time, in fact, i ended up sitting on the bathroom sink for half an hour staring because i could actually -see- myself as a female, without the usual corollary "once i've dealt with that chin/facial hair" stuff.
not much of an answer, and entirely anecdotal, but hey... at least i can contribute -something- to a conversation
