Quote from: KathyLauren on June 10, 2017, 10:14:49 AM
I am full-time (2 months now)

Hey, fellow member of the Class of '17!  Great year for a new start, eh?

Erin

I'm 55 here and 6 months(as of yesterday!) into HRT. I'm on the slow train to transition but make no mistake, that a train is moving. It may take me a few years but I'll get there (someone please save me a seat). I've known for at least ten or fifteen years that I'm transgender - and that really just coincided with the internet because I've always known that I am more of a female than male. The biggest issue I have is the culture and world we live in right now. It's slowly getting better though. My partner points out that because of my slow transition (which, BTW, she is ever so thankful for), by the time I'm transitioned, we Trans folks will be accepted into the mainstream and no one will care my transness. Either way though, the hormones have been an absolute blessing. And I look at each milestone ahead with both some anxiety of course but also a lot of excitement. How many people get the chance to be reborn this late in life. Good luck to you on your journey.

I think transitioning at a older age can be totally successful.  I've seen more than a few older women who were hard to gender. It seems like some older women get androgynous as they get older. A lot of them have hair as short as a man. They dress in kind of unisex clothes. A lot of them have noticible facial hair. And a lot of them have smoked for like 40 years so they have deep voices. I'm not trying to be mean or disrespectful so please don't think I am. I kind of understand why some older women are like that. I have an older client named Grace. She's 77.She always gets the same really short haircut. Once I suggested she grow it out a little so she could do more with it. She told me the reason she liked it so short was because she didn't have to do anything with it. She also has a lot of hair on her upper lip. I suggested she let me wax it for her. She said no. She said she spent most of her time with her cat Barney and he didn't care if she had a moustache.  She said she knew it was hard for to understand her attitude but she said she had spent 50 plus years putting on makeup,doing her hair and dressing up. Her husband had died and she had no use for another man and wasn't trying to attract one. She said she couldn't care less what anyone thought about the way she looked and that at her age she had earned the right to be as comfortable as possible. If anyone didnt like her looks they didn't have to look at her. I totally get that. In 60 years I probably won't be too worried about my hair or makeup either. So if you're an older lady with nice hair, nice makeup and dressed nice and feminine you should totally pass. Maybe even be kind of a rockstar. Among older guys anyway.
Hugs
Julia

Quote from: Julia1996 on June 15, 2017, 09:09:54 AMSo if you're an older lady with nice hair, nice makeup and dressed nice and feminine you should totally pass. Maybe even be kind of a rockstar. Among older guys anyway.
Hugs
Julia

Rockstar or not......not all old broads are looking for old guys...l.o.l.

Quote from: Julia1996 on June 15, 2017, 09:09:54 AM
So if you're an older lady with nice hair, nice makeup and dressed nice and feminine you should totally pass. Maybe even be kind of a rockstar. Among older guys anyway.

      I totally get that.  Alas, I'm not into guys.   

I was at a dinner event, where most of the people at the table knew my background.   There was an older gent, Paul, seated next to me who was frankly flirting a bit.  I played it straight through the dinner, but towards the end my inner prankster got loose.

The topic at the table turned to the most unusual places we had lived or worked.  When folks turned to me, I talked about being on board a submarine for several months straight and the odd lifestyle there.  Paul got a funny look on his face.  "But how?  I thought that women weren't allowed on submarines?"   A couple of the gals at the table started giggling. 

I reached over and touched his hand. "Oh, that was back when I was a man."  In about 10 seconds, the poor fellow cycled through about a half dozen emotional expressions. "Uh... oh."

The flirting stopped at that point.

I was a little surprised, but it looks like passing at an older age is actually pretty easy to achieve.  As others have mentioned, the differences between AMAB and AFAB bodies and voice seem to diminish as we get into our 60s and the aging process starts to unify the appearance of both physical sexes.

With some effort to remain trim, fit, and healthy it is possible for a transwoman to have a better weight and figure than many ciswomen at the same age.  We tend to be monitoring our physical condition better, and for those of us seeking medical transition, we try hard to meet the fitness targets of our doctors and surgeons.  That has the great side effect of helping our overall appearance and passing ability.

(I'm certain that one of the other ladies at the table would have clued Paul into my nature after I was gone from the table.  Outing myself, I was able to prevent that horrible feeling he would have had that he was somehow being 'tricked' by me, a common misperception with older folks about trans people.  It was flattering that he perceived me as a woman, though.

Oh, I identify as a lesbian, "blue jean femme".  Just to put that on the table if you aren't sure. )

I am not sure what you consider a success story for a woman transitioning in her mature years but I will take a couple of tries at it. First off, I am alive and well and quite happy. Without transitioning at my age I probably wouldn't be alive at all so I have to consider that a success. Next, I am 69 years old, just about a year into hrt, out full time and I believe passing pretty well. My wife and I have the goal of finishing this journey as a couple of the most eccentric crazy old ladies you will ever meet and I can still dance until the wee hours in my 3.5" pumps and still walk to breakfast in the morning.

Michelle, I am jealous of that 20.5 bmi, I am currently at 24.5 and heading down. I believe that makes a huge contribution and I hope to make it another 20 to 25 years enjoying this wild ride! - Anne

This must be the most optimistic thread I've read so far. You are an inspiration, ladies, even to me ( going FTM).

I'm just about to embark on my FTM journey with a few decades on my back. I'm in extremely good physical shape and condition for my age (I've got the health status of a 30 yo), probably because I always worked out to be more 'manly' in shape,  so I'm optimistic that I'll pass as a male within a year or so.

Thanks so much for sharing your stories here.

Quote from: Julia1996 on June 15, 2017, 09:09:54 AM
So if you're an older lady with nice hair, nice makeup and dressed nice and feminine you should totally pass. Maybe even be kind of a rockstar. Among older guys anyway.
Hugs
Julia

I totally agree, because I am 67 and I have had more than a few men approach me with a sociable intent. Some even outright ask for a date!   

Quote from: Dani on June 19, 2017, 09:03:54 AM
because I am 67

Wow!  You sure wouldn't know it from your avatar.   

HRT for older mtf is like the fountain of youth. Then add the plastic surgeryl wonders that a financially stronger older transitioner can afford and voila.... a 69 year old passes as 40. But you have to work at it with healthy living and exercise, diet tho.

Quote from: warlockmaker on June 26, 2017, 12:09:10 AM
HRT for older mtf is like the fountain of youth.

Just last week, I was accused of having a stolen bank card because the teller didn't believe the age shown on her computer screen.  Hee-hee! 

I got told at the weekend by my friends wife that I would pass with a decent wig and carful make up, she also said see thought my face was quite feminine as well and that was before the wine!!!!!

I began my transition at 48/49 and hormones at 49. Prior to that i was presenting to the world as a feminine guy since my 20s. Had i fully understood the spectrum back then, i may have called myself non-binary. By about 2014 though i realized that i was not being fully honest with myself. So i hopped on board the transition train.

I truly do feel that HRT has been a fountain of youth for me in many respects. Before i started i was feeling middle age acutely some days, after not so much and my physical appearance became younger as well. So much, that it was often mentioned by people I had not seen a while and some were a bit startled by it. Like a poster mentioned above i am also pleased to have the boobs of a college girl

Life lived genuinely will always beat the alternative.