I encountered something this week that never occurred to me when I began my transition.
About a year after I began my transition I packed up and moved clear across the country to a town where I knew only one other person. By that point I passed on a consistent basis; and although it was not intentional, this allowed me to be totally stealth. I didn't run the risk of running into a casual acquaintance or a former coworker and having to go through the social awkwardness that comes with situations like that.
I recently have become friends with one of my neighbors. We have a lot in common and are both recovering addicts. As we've gotten closer I began to realize that my purposely vague back story was starting to unravel. There were too may gaps to explain how I got to be where I am today. I started to feel like I was lying by omission, and honesty is a keystone of recovery. Yesterday with great trepidation I came out to her. With acid churning in my stomach, fearing what might happen, I let it all out. I was pleasantly surprised at her reaction. My heart was pounding in my ears, so I didn't catch everything she said, but she was very supportive.
After asking a couple of completely appropriate questions (I honestly don't remember what they were) she looked me up and down and said "B*tch, you have bigger boobs than I do". We both laughed and I was relieved that she still accepted me. If the relationship progresses further I have gone in with complete honesty.
So, that's another one off the checklist... coming out to someone post transition. I feel as though an enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
