Hi All,
So, in addition to working at my "normal" job as a research specialist (which is anything but normal), I also own a small resort in Northern MN. My grandparents bought it in 1949 and I worked there through most of my teens. When they died, the resort passed to my father and then to myself and three sisters. Ten years ago, I took over running the resort and started purchasing my sisters portions. For the past ten years, I have worked at the resort on weekends and worked 220 miles away during the week. I added seasonal RV sites to bring in money. I moved a cabin with my log trailer into the resort for a manager to live in during the summer. I have worked so hard for so long. And then, as I was still working on things, I could no longer tolerate being male. I had to transition.
What does one do with 50+ regular customers who come there year after year, some of whom have been coming there for longer than I have been alive? What do you do with 20 RV owners who view this as a "family" place? I told them, usually around a camp fire. No one left and all offered support. They have known me for a long time. It was worse than coming out at work and the response was even better. They had a choice about what to do. There was no HR support when the person I was telling was a customer.
With seasonal RVs, there is about a 5% turn-over every year with some deciding they don't have time because the kids are now in their teens and with some deciding to buy a lot on a lake rather than rent. Well, this past year, I lost two renters. One inherited a lake cabin from their mother and the other got tired of the 200 mile drive each weekend to the lake. (She will now rent a cabin four times a year.)
Renters or not, people are still people and they still slip and call me "he" or they call me by my old name, where upon they promptly apologize. But, new renters would find out that I am a transgendered woman. So, I decided to tell them during the on-site showing or in one case, to email them as I couldn't be there. I just rented the last one - the one here I sent the email. Here was their response:
"Jennifer - thank you for providing the lease agreement as it answers our questions. We also appreciate you providing information regarding your personal life, which solidifies our decision to make an offer to XXXX. We want to be surrounded by people who are accepting of all. We look forward to meeting you and spending quality time at the resort, that is if XXXX accepts our offer."
XXX accepted the offer. We are now full again.
Yes, I had one person literally run back to their vehicle when I told her and her husband. And yes, it kinda sucks needing to do this. But the encouragement and support has been incredible.
Hugs for everyone,
Jen
