Things that you never thought about before transition.

[Northern Jane]

On the highway, miles from nowhere, lots of cars, not a restroom for miles, and have to PEE! This is awkward ....... 
Post Merge: February 21, 2010, 07:26:41 AM
Toilet paper is NOT optional!

[kyril]

Ok. Try to keep napkins (or toilet paper, but napkins have many uses) in your glove box at all times.

You pull over on the shoulder. Get out of the car - be sure to bring your keys with you. You have two options: (a) try to pull over in an area with bushes or trees, and go hide behind one, or (b) just go right by the car, using the doors as shields. If you don't have both a front and a back door but need to use option b, you'll want to pull over on a curve in the road so that the body of the car blocks the view from one direction and the door blocks it from the other.

If you travel wearing pants, you'll want to practice doing a squat with your feet spread very very wide so that you don't get any splash on the ankles of your pants. Master the art of doing this without pulling the pants much past your knees (else you'll get splash on the upper part). You'll want to practice this maneuver before you actually have to use it.

[cynthialee]

Only at month 4 of transition but I have a few......
The cute'r the jeans the more useless the pockets in the jeans.
I am surprised at how many people seem to have gender rules they think I should have.
Womens clothing sizes are lies! Why can't they just develope industry standards for sizes?
I think the biggest change that was most welcome and surprizing was the quality and intinsity of my orgasm changing drasticly. (can you say OMFG!)

also I didn't see that I had male privlage until the people around me started revoking my man card....lol

[Myself]

ohh! my mom tells me that as a girl, my room should be always clean and tidy.
It's funny, she should see my girl friends rooms

[K8]

Intellectually I knew that guys sometimes open doors for older women and do other things like that.  (At least they do around here. )  But sometimes it still surprises me - and always pleases me.

I had a mustache for 41 years.  I find I still make the move to pull on it now and then.

I haven't stood to pee for at least 20 years.  Don't wait until you can't to start practicing.  (Besides, peeing while standing is gross. )  You're right, Kyril - the car door bit works well.  It's a little more difficult when traveling by motorcycle but can be done.

- Kate

[Arch]

I never was attracted to hairy chests before. Never thought I would be. Now I'm definitely interested.

Post Merge: February 21, 2010, 11:33:25 PM

I had a mustache for 41 years.  I find I still make the move to pull on it now and then.

This fairly boggles my mind, Kate.

[placeholdername]

k... for the record I'm not transitioning (yet), but I do keep my legs shaven all the time and I've got say, it sure is chilly in the winter!!

Two words: Thigh socks .

[PanoramaIsland]

The defining memory of my transition is the moment I walked out my front door in a skirt for the first time in my life. I felt so vulnerable, so naked - I don't think there was even anyone around, but that didn't matter. I was paranoid that my skirts would blow up in my face, and everyone would see what was underneath. I knew I had crossed the line, and that there was no way of going back. I could not stuff back into the box what I had let out of my own free will. It was huge - terrifying and liberating at the same time.

Now, I don't even notice things like that. It's amazing how much we adapt.

[Autumn]

Something that has caught my attention lately is how much differently I used to move my body. I even sat on the toilet differently.

Basically, always tucking and wearing a bra these days has me moving my body completely differently. And the all important kneel down instead of bend over... so your cleavage or ass don't go flying out. Not that I have to worry about the cleavage part.

[K8]

I really know what you mean, Autumn.  The way I move now is so natural that it makes it hard to believe I ever passed as a man.  But I did.  I was so constrained in my movements that it seems like *he* must have been a different person.

I've gotten a number of comments from friends who have watched my transition that I have a definite wiggle when I walk.  I've lived a number of places where that would have gotten me badly beaten when presenting male.  It's nice to let it loose.

- Kate

PS Thanks Arch. *blush*

[Arch]

PS Thanks Arch. *blush*

Well, you're welcome. Here's a funny. For a moment there, I was getting my wires crossed. I was thinking, "Geez, Kate, why did you put up with that incipient mustache for FORTY YEARS??!! That's why God invented waxing and electrolysis and all of that." And then I remembered. Not an incipient mustache but a real mustache.

It's still an alien concept to me, that you could ever live as a man or be read as a man. You are KATE. End of story.

[Jeatyn]

I never used to understand how men could stand to have things in their back pockets. Since wearing mens jeans, I've realised that unlike womens jeans, the pockets aren't completely bloody useless

I've also realised that a lot of men will only be helpful/nice/whatever to somebody they hope they can eventually have sex with I'm a crapload more invisible since presenting male.

[PanoramaIsland]

Yeah, one thing I've learned since transitioning is that "would you like help with that" is often code for "I would like to screw you" and/or "I am a strong man, and you are a weak woman. Look at my strong and manly muscles! I will protect you!"

A few nights ago, I had some random guy on the street offer to help me with my rolly-bag, which I was toting up the hill with no trouble whatsoever. It was especially insulting because he was shorter than I by 2/3rds of a foot at least. A bit like some random guy asking if you can handle carrying your backpack on those weak, feminine shoulders of yours. I'm afraid I snapped at the fellow rather badly.

[sneakersjay]

I've also realised that a lot of men will only be helpful/nice/whatever to somebody they hope they can eventually have sex with I'm a crapload more invisible since presenting male.

Interesting.  I was totally invisible before; now I have clerks in stores tripping over themselves to help me.

The interesting thing for me (besides that one) is how cool body hair feels against clothes.


Jay

[MasterAsh]

The interesting thing for me (besides that one) is how cool body hair feels against clothes.


Jay

Completely opposite for me: I had no idea how lovely and normal clothes felt against hairless skin. XD

Before I ever removed any body hair, I preferred larger sized clothing, because I couldn't stand the way fitted clothing felt on me. Medium tops technically "fit" me, but I would opt for large to avoid the sensation. I mean, it would drive me crazy; I'd feel clamped. When I would wear medium tees, I'd reflexively retract my chest and would often spend the day yanking and tugging the shirt away from me. (The image of a cat with bags on its feet comes to mind.  )

One day at work, though, long after I started routinely shaving my chest, the realization that I was wearing a medium tee completely unfazed me hit me. (My other large work tees were dirty.) When I got home, I took it off to confirm that it was indeed medium. I thought "Well, maybe this one's stretched and worn." I grabbed a newer medium tee out of my closet to compare and found it had indeed maintained it's shape. As I see it, the hair had been the main problem the whole time.

Now the only discomfort I feel wearing tighter clothing involves the 10 pounds or so I need to lose. 

[K8]

This morning a woman I didn't know admired my scarf and asked where I got it.  This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it is always a pleasure.  For some reason I never realized that women did this.

It's amazing what you discover when you finally open yourself to the world around you.

- Kate

[Vision]

The anatomical implications include being able to recreate the restaurant scene in the "Story of O"

oh......MY!

::fans herself::

[Autumn]

This morning a woman I didn't know admired my scarf and asked where I got it.  This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it is always a pleasure.  For some reason I never realized that women did this.

It's amazing what you discover when you finally open yourself to the world around you.

- Kate

This cute girl who sits behind me in economics had on these amazing ankle boots yesterday - similar to the cheap style you find pretty easily, but better looking with a higher heel. I had to ask her where she got them. She said they were handmedowns, and she thought they were around 7 years old. She wore them because they're comfortable enough to wear for 12 hours.

My jaw hit the floor at that.

Nine West. O.o

[Julie Marie]

what little things, that you never even thought about before transition, stand out or come as a surprise to you now that you're on the other side?

Actually FEELING female.  It was impossible for me to comprehend that so I never gave it much of a thought past that.  It doesn't happen a lot but there are times now when I actually feel female.

Another thing I never thought about before transitioning was transitioning.  Never believed I would do it.

And then there's the finishing things thing.  I was notorious for starting things then walking away.  I used to think it was because I got bored.  Now I know it was the swarm of bees I kept swatting away that made everything so difficult.  (Yeah, the bees are gone now!  )

[pretty pauline]

This morning a woman I didn't know admired my scarf and asked where I got it.  This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it is always a pleasure.  For some reason I never realized that women did this.

It's amazing what you discover when you finally open yourself to the world around you.

- Kate

Its a thing guys never do, only last week when I went to Fiancé sister's birthday I decided to make an effort and wore a purple lace dress with matching purse and a cute pair of suede heels, she absolutely loved my dress and wants to borrow my heels, its nice just to praise different fashion style, women do it all the time, its a girl thing, I like it and its nice.
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