Hi all 

I've been lurking here for awhile now and thought I'd finally introduce myself.  I'll keep it decently short for now... maybe I'll write more later.  It's the classic story of knowing the inside gender and outside gender didn't match as far as I can remember.  When I was a kid I basically forced my male identity on everyone around me in the way I looked and acted, and was generally accepted.  Then puberty hit and it became a decision between being looked upon as a freak or hiding my problem and trying to change the inside to match the outside.  I chose the latter.  For years this went okay and I accepted my childhood as a "phase".  Obviously that didn't work out, or I wouldn't be here posting.  I am now in that "not-a-teenager-but-not-close-to-retirement" period of life and have come to grips with my gender identity over the past several years.  I have zero doubts about my true identity at this point. I've been fortunate thus far as quite a few people close to me know about my condition and seem to accept it as a part of who I am.  However I've never been able to talk with other transgendered/transsexual people (yeah, we're quite rare  ) and when I stumbled across this site one day I was pretty intrigued.  I was pleasantly surprised by the honest discussion on this forum, and found it all very interesting.  So I thought I'd take the time to say hi to everyone here (including the lurkers  ).  I don't know how much I'll post but thought it'd be worth introducing myself at least.

All the best,
Joseph

Hi Joseph,
I like that name. My 2 year old grandson is Joseph too.
It's great that you that you know your true indentity.
Me I'm a MTF and have just come to grips with that fact that i'm female and now I need to learn just who this woman is and what she like and what she wants to do with the reat of her life.
I't also great that you have people close that know about your TG condition and accept you for who you are.
I'm still getting up the nerve and waiting for the right time to tell my wife.
Yes we are a friendly bunch at Susan's and we do care. Many time the discussions can get painfully honest.
I'm glad to meet you, Joseph.

Hope to hear more from you soon.

Jillieann

Hi Joseph, I didnt quite understand about the gender part. You are a male trapped in a females body or a female trapped in a mans body, I am gathering that you are the latter. Anyhow it doesnt matter either way but it would be nice to know which way you are headed.  Dont get upset by this as whichever it is, it is all good.

Be strong and get support from within this forum of wondeful souls. Dont fade away.

Sara.

Yep, it's the latter from the way I read it. Welcome, Joseph, always good to see more guys here. We're in the minority at the moment, but there are others here.

Have a look at the rules and browse away. Hope you do feel like contributing. We're a friendly bunch around here.

Dennis

Hi Joseph,

Welcome to Susans. As Dennis said the girls outweigh the guys here so I hope you do decide to post here. If you've been lurking for a while your probably familiar with the site rules and info in the Wiki so relax and enjoy your time here.

Shelley

Quote from: Sara on January 21, 2006, 02:13:09 AM
I didnt quite understand about the gender part. You are a male trapped in a females body or a female trapped in a mans body, I am gathering that you are the latter.

Sorry for the confusion!  FtM, not MtF.  Think Dennis, not Steph.    Hope that clarifies it.

Welcome Joseph,

Your posts will be eagerly awaited by many to say the least. It's everyone sharing that makes it the site you,"stumbled across this site one day I was pretty intrigued.  I was pleasantly surprised by the honest discussion on this forum, and found it all very interesting." Do be one who shares and helps us all see things more clearly.

Thanks for posting.

Smiles,
Peggiann

Hey, Joseph!  Welcome to Susan's!

I lurked about for quite a few months, mainly because I could only access the net at work (almost outed myself before I was ready, too!).  I finally got a computer this past Christmas and coming out at Susan's was a large part of the reasons for the purchase.

This is one of the best TG sites that I've found.  I've look at quite a few of them and I chose to join here because of the quality of discourse and the people behind it.  I look forward to hearing more from you.

again, WELCOME!
helen

Quote from: Joseph on January 21, 2006, 10:14:09 AM
Sorry for the confusion!  FtM, not MtF.  Think Dennis, not Steph.    Hope that clarifies it.

I guess I should take that as a complement

But let me add my welcome to the others.  From what you have written I'm sure that you will enjoy your stay here at Susan's.

Chat later,

Steph

Sorry Joseph, I am not very subtle sometimes. NOW I GET IT!
Welcome.
Have you started on T yet and if not do you think you will start to and down the track have the op?

Sara.

That'd be ops plural for FtM's, Sara. Three of em: top, hysto, and bottom. Some do one or two and not the third. Others do all three.

Dennis

Dennis, I am so sorry, I keep forgetting about the other side of life. Yes you are right, although some do get by without the top as they have not much in that area to begin with.

ooops OPS!!!

Sara.

Quote from: Sara on January 21, 2006, 09:15:26 PM
Have you started on T yet and if not do you think you will start to and down the track have the op?

I knew someone was bound to ask that question.  The short answer is I am pre-op (or ops, as Dennis pointed out).  Like many others here I have no plans to have HRT or SRS due to "circumstances", which I won't go into now.  I would LOVE to start on that journey and be where Dennis is, though.  I'm open to the possibility but don't know if it will ever happen in this lifetime. As I said before, I have no doubts about my male identity; however, after years of being completely miserable about this "nightmare" situation (as Kimberly called it in another thread) right now I'm relatively at peace with it.  Maybe one day I'll explain why, but it's a long story and also a little too personal for me to share right now.  I'm sure you'll at least get bits here and there in future posts though.