So in a couple of weeks I'm moving to a new city. I lived there before a couple of years ago, and while I know everyone I'll be working with, the people I was social with have all left so I have a blank slate to work with. My issue is that I am working to get myself to the point where I'm ready for hormones, which I'm guessing will be sometime this summer (maybe fall). I'm nowhere near passable yet so I'd have to try to make friends while still presenting male, (though I'll probably start being a bit more femme than I am now). I was also thinking that it might be a good idea, before starting hormones, to try to sign up for a class of some sort (I was thinking painting) and present female there.
I'm worried about how nosy people might be. I don't want to massively out myself before I'm at least close to full time, but I feel like I'd want to do this sort of thing before I'm ready to start hormones. Has anyone tried this sort of thing before? Is this one of those things that sounds like a good idea but is in actuality a nightmare?
Some people are bound to be nosy, there's always at least one of them! Not much you can do about that. Women tend to be very chatty and tend to ask questions of each other that men would never ask each other. If you haven't been socialised for that kind on interaction then it can be a be surprising at first.
As for your proposed plan it sounds fine, if you can make the logistics work then go for it. During my first transition attempt (as Julie) I had been on hormones for almost two years and signed up for a course (as Julian) - I was still presenting as male but was so andro by then I apparently confused a few people including my teacher who couldn't work out if I was male or female!
Being who you want to be is a very liberating experience. If taking a class will make you feel more comfortable then it sounds like a great idea. You'd be surprised how indifferent most people are going to be; it's not as big of a deal as we make it out to be. As for friends, I'd only suggest that you be yourself. You'll have no problem making friends being a genuine person. Allowing being transgendered to be a center of a friendship is the biggest pitfall... it's only a small part of who we are.
The last time I moved into a more conservative area. I was concerned about how nosy people would be, but in the end most of have minded their own business. It's true a couple are nosy but for the most part people let you go about your own business. I hope you have a pleasant moving experience. Hugs
Mariah