Hi folks,
Being new here, but lurkinng for a short while, I would like to take the ooportunity to introduce myself. Knowing something was amiss all my life, I've only recently discovered that I'm a trans woman - all thanks to a couple of years of soul searching (and some recent professional help to confirm what I already knew).
Although my user name here is "Christiane", Ive settled on using a name I'm more comfortable with, that of
Melanie Jean, which has a nice ring - at least to me (and others I've spoken with).
I'll work it out with the admin on changing the user name later.
At 57, and somewhat older than many here, I discovered that there are quite a few in the same boat as I. It's nice to see others that I can directly relate to. I'm a former IT admin for a local hospital here in So California, but I've been running my own gig since October 2001, something that won't make me rich, but keeps me busy and much happier that I answer to no one.
I'm currently separated from my wife, but this has nothing to do with the discoveries about myself. I also have a grown child who teaches in So Korea that I'm incredibly proud of.
I live in a house that my great grandfather bought in 1926, owned by my grandfather, my dad, and finally me. Not a big place, but it does have a good deal of outdoor space - enough for a bunch of cats. I'm also frequented ny the local racoons, opossums and the occasional fox, which makes for intereting evenings keeping them from getting inside the cat door.
My hobbies include motorcycles, classic VW vans, RC planes and model railroading. I also love following historic and/or abandoned lumber railroads in the Sierra Nevada range, and I'm now saving my pennies to buy a bright yellow Jeep that I can use to explore with.
Ive been presenting full time since Jan 19 of this year, having finally decided that I could no longer exist as my old self. It was only after this date that I actually sought professional help, but this was mainly a formality - I knew and understood who I really am. FWIW, I start HRT next week and I feel like a kid at Christmas! I can hardly wait to see what Santa brings in the comming months and years!
Anyway, that's enough for now. I look forward to participating in the many active discussions here at Susan's Place!
Thanks for listening. Love to all.
~Melanie
