I have gotten the impression that people here, being so polite, are afraid to talk to me about my transition. So I've been kind of on the lookout for conversational opportunities to raise the subject myself.
Today at community coffee, the conversation drifted to how having kids at a later age was not a good thing, and some wished they had had their kids at a younger age. (We were at the women's end of the table, so an all-female discussion.) After everyone but me had voiced their agreement, I dived in. I told them that, when I started on hormones, the doctor had warned me that it would make me sterile, and was I okay with that. I told them that my response was, "At 62 years of age, believe me, I am SO okay with it!"
A mildly amusing anecdote that fit in with the subject. But, more to the point, it let them know that I am okay with talking about my transition if they have questions. They immediately wanted to know how estrogen affected me emotionally, commented on how nice my skin was, etc.
It felt good. I don't want to feel like I am hiding any more, and I don't want others to think that either.