I thought I should say hi to you all, so hi! I'm Simone, I'm a non-binary trans femme and I live in London in the UK. I've been transitioning for a while now (HRT since Dec 2023) and was given the details for this site on a train coming back from an eyetest. I was clocked (despite boymoding which was weird) and had a great chat with a girl who had nothing but good things to say about here. So I thought I'd finally pop in and see what it was like.

Hello Anamorphose

My name is Sarah B and I would like to formally, Welcome you to Susan's Place!

Your screen name and its meaning is unusual and interesting and when its applied to you from other peoples perspective then they see the real you.  Now that you have been on HRT for over a year how do you feel?

Which reminds me I need to get my eyes tested, teeth checked, take my hormones new method, so yeah life goes on.  There are some wonderful people out there and take care in who you tell about yourself.

Once you feel comfortable here, it would be appreciated if you add a little bit more about yourself in the Introductions Forum, of course.  I would appreciate it very much as, I'm always interested in learning something new about new members

In addition members of Susan's will more than likely will discuss problems or issues that are similar to yours as most have experienced these as well.

Please review the links at the end of this message, especially the red links, they include information which will help you navigate the site and use the available features.  When you reach 15 posts, you will be able to send and reply to private messages and you will also be able to add an avatar to your profile, until then if you have any questions about the Susan's Place site and the Forums, please feel free to contact, the Forum Admin Danielle Northern Star Girl alaskandanielle@yahoo.com

Take care and all the best for the future.

Once again, Welcome to Susan's Place!
Sarah B
Offical Greeter
@LoriDee
@Northern Star Girl
@Anamorphose

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Hello Anamorphose,

Welcome to Susan's Place!

I am glad to hear that this site was recommended and you followed up by becoming a member. This site is huge, with stories, experiences, and information from members all over the world. Everyone is welcome here.

Our lovely Sarah B posted some links to important information about the site. Be sure to check those out. When you feel comfortable, we would like to know more about you. Share only what you are comfortable with. This is a PUBLIC all-ages forum so just keep in mind that the internet never forgets. 

If you get lost wandering the site or just need help, feel free to reach out. Our staff and members are happy to help out.

Again, welcome to Susan's Place!

Lori Dee

Thank you so much Lori and Sarah, it warms my heart to have such a personal response. SO yeah, erm, I'll just blurt out a load of stuff since you asked.

So I'm pretty old (47) and I'm married and live in East London with my wife and my dog. I work for TfL, the city's transport authority and have done for almost as long as I'm been in London (22 years). I'm originally from the Midlands (the centre bit of England) and moved around a bit before coming here. I'm a musician and sound engineer and a big geek for music in general, in fact I used to have a recording studio with friends but that had to close recently due to rent increases.

My username is a track by possibly my favourite band Stereolab, and it's a bit of an experimental thing with a continuous rhythm with an organ part that slowly slips out of phase with the rhythm then gradually aligns again. I've used it in online games a bit and it seems appropriate. 

I finally came out to my wife at the very start of 2022 (she says she'd suspected for years) and since then I've been mainly having therapy via Zoom. I managed to get a diagnosis of dysphoria last summer and started HRT in Dec '23 as I said and I've been trying to do a lot of work on the mental stuff primarily. Next up is laser I think, and getting a bigger dose of E.

I think that's the main points, though happy to answer any questions anyone has.

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 12:45:16 PMSo I'm pretty old (47)...

I wish I could have transitioned when I was that young. I didn't start until I was 55! There's a lot of info here, and many of us are more than willing to answer any questions you may have.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on August 27, 2024, 12:56:53 PMI wish I could have transitioned when I was that young. I didn't start until I was 55! There's a lot of info here, and many of us are more than willing to answer any questions you may have.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Hi Jessica! I know what you mean, I see others starting earlier than me and think the same. But without access to the language and the stories of trans people it was hard for me to realise that what I'd been feeling was what lots of trans people feel - I always thought that if I didn't want to be a super girly-girl and wasn't 100% sure it must be something else. Luckily I got there eventually.   

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 02:34:24 PMHi Jessica! I know what you mean, I see others starting earlier than me and think the same. But without access to the language and the stories of trans people it was hard for me to realise that what I'd been feeling was what lots of trans people feel - I always thought that if I didn't want to be a super girly-girl and wasn't 100% sure it must be something else. Luckily I got there eventually.   

It is definitely a journey of exploration and learning. I was diagnosed at age 60 and spent two years in therapy trying to figure out what that meant. In 2019 I decided that I'm going all in since this is me. There will be ups and downs and that is why we are here. To congratulate you on the ups and give you hugs when you are down.

I'm glad you found us.

Lori

Hi Everyone

Anamorphose, you said in your post:

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 12:45:16 PMThank you so much Lori and Sarah, it warms my heart to have such a personal response. SO yeah, erm, I'll just blurt out a load of stuff since you asked.

You are more than welcome.

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 12:45:16 PMSo I'm pretty old (47) and I'm married and live in East London with my wife and my dog. I work for TfL, the city's transport authority and have done for almost as long as I'm been in London (22 years). I'm originally from the Midlands (the centre bit of England) and moved around a bit before coming here. I'm a musician and sound engineer and a big geek for music in general, in fact I used to have a recording studio with friends but that had to close recently due to rent increases.

Well you are only a young grasshopper or padawan.  So to speak and I hail from England as well.  One day we might out number these 'American's around here, one can only hope and dream.  Yes, everything is getting expensive.  I never used to worry about expenses, but now I do.

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 12:45:16 PMMy username is a track by possibly my favourite band Stereolab, and it's a bit of an experimental thing with a continuous rhythm with an organ part that slowly slips out of phase with the rhythm then gradually aligns again. I've used it in online games a bit and it seems appropriate. 

You have no idea what an appropriate name that you have used.  Well maybe you do!?

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 12:45:16 PMI finally came out to my wife at the very start of 2022 (she says she'd suspected for years) and since then I've been mainly having therapy via Zoom. I managed to get a diagnosis of dysphoria last summer and started HRT in Dec '23 as I said and I've been trying to do a lot of work on the mental stuff primarily. Next up is laser I think, and getting a bigger dose of E.

I think that's the main points, though happy to answer any questions anyone has.

It's nice to know that your wife is aware and supports you.  I presume that your wife is aware of your diagnosis and that you are on HRT?  Well it seems to me you know what you want to do.  Good for you.  Me I never got that diagnosis, well the terms were not around at the time I changed my life around.

It would be nice to know how your wife knew and has handled your situation.  But please only if you wish to share and remember that this is an open forum and everyone can read what you write, the internet never forgets comes to mind.

Lori and Jessica mentioned that they have transitioned late in life and what they are really saying in a sense is, that it is never to late to change your life around.

In addition you also wrote in another post:

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 02:34:24 PMHi Jessica! I know what you mean, I see others starting earlier than me and think the same. But without access to the language and the stories of trans people it was hard for me to realise that what I'd been feeling was what lots of trans people feel - I always thought that if I didn't want to be a super girly-girl and wasn't 100% sure it must be something else. Luckily I got there eventually.   

You are right, I started out a lot younger, I was 30 years old, when I changed my life around and I also wish that I changed my life around a lot younger.  There are others here on Susan's that started out a lot younger than me.

But given the circumstances it worked out extremely well for me.  If you read my story, you will know that I had no information, except for one article and wanting and longing to be a female, basically.  I never was a girly girl and I never questioned that I wanted to be a female.  Yet here I am!

You will also get there, I'm sure you will.  Take care and all the best for the future.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 27, 2024, 04:21:36 PMIt is definitely a journey of exploration and learning. I was diagnosed at age 60 and spent two years in therapy trying to figure out what that meant. In 2019 I decided that I'm going all in since this is me. There will be ups and downs and that is why we are here. To congratulate you on the ups and give you hugs when you are down.

I'm glad you found us.

Lori

Thanks Lori, it's great to be here and get a chance to chat and learn. And lovely to meet you too of course!

Thanks Sarah, great to see there are people from this side of the pond here! It's really good to see fellow trans people who are older too, it's sometimes hard to relate closely to young trans people who have a whole different set of concerns and responsibilities.

Yep, my wife is frankly completely awesome and she knows about my gender and HRT. She's bi and hence very pro-LGBTQ anyway. She first helped me realise I was bi too, and as she used to be a hair and make-up artist (and a burlesque artist too) part of my realisation was her dressing me up for the odd event. Those turned out to be huge cracks in my egg. Once Covid hit and I couldn't distract myself from thinking by running about being musical I just started researching without knowing why. The egg cracked and then I took ages to come out to her anyway, but I did on Jan 2nd '22.

Since then she has always tried her very best to be there for me despite her own health problems, from giving me old clothes, offering to teach me makeup, and respecting the various pronouns and names I've tried. I am very aware just how lucky I am to have her.

I will have a read of your story thanks, I'm very much enjoying seeing how everyone else got to the place they're at.

And yes, I'm definitely aware that "Anna, Morphose!" is a pun as well as being a good track. Hehehe!

Actually, I've had a general look through the site but was wondering if there are ways to bring up resource info specific to the UK or London? I'm looking to start laser very soon and definitely could do with recommendations/warnings.

Quote from: Anamorphose on August 27, 2024, 05:49:33 PMActually, I've had a general look through the site but was wondering if there are ways to bring up resource info specific to the UK or London? I'm looking to start laser very soon and definitely could do with recommendations/warnings.

Looks like you already found the right place.
Hair Removal

It isn't specific to the UK, but you can post a question of what you are looking for and where. We have quite a few ladies here from your neck of the woods who would be happy to answer questions.

Hi Anna!

Yeah names are funny,  I chose my name to be short so that no one could turn it into a nickname, was I ever so wrong.  I have one of my brothers to thank for that.

When I said I hail from England, that is true.  However, I live in Australia, down under far removed from everyone else around here and I have done so for the last 55 years.  I remain a dual citizen of both countries.  In my avatar is the Aussie flag which attests to who I have allegiance to.  I would go back for a holiday but not to stay.

You have a wonderful wife and there are a couple of wives Significant Others (SO) like yours that accept their partners unconditionally. Imallie, Moonflower and Susan_Rose to mention a couple.  There is one thing I should mention you are not just 'lucky' to have your wife but, 'extremely lucky'.

As for the laser surgery, I have no idea whatsoever, so I will leave it up to those who are more conversant with current methods to get rid of those ubiquitous hairs.

You can find other members stories in the 'Member Blogs', they provide great insight into their lives.

See you around sometime and best wishes for the future.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter
@imallie
@Moonflower
@Susan_Rose

Quote from: Sarah B on August 27, 2024, 10:20:09 PMHi Anna!

Yeah names are funny,  I chose my name to be short so that no one could turn it into a nickname, was I ever so wrong.  I have one of my brothers to thank for that.

When I said I hail from England, that is true.  However, I live in Australia, down under far removed from everyone else around here and I have done so for the last 55 years.  I remain a dual citizen of both countries.  In my avatar is the Aussie flag which attests to who I have allegiance to.  I would go back for a holiday but not to stay.

You have a wonderful wife and there are a couple of wives Significant Others (SO) like yours that accept their partners unconditionally. Imallie, Moonflower and Susan_Rose to mention a couple.  There is one thing I should mention you are not just 'lucky' to have your wife but, 'extremely lucky'.

As for the laser surgery, I have no idea whatsoever, so I will leave it up to those who are more conversant with current methods to get rid of those ubiquitous hairs.

You can find other members stories in the 'Member Blogs', they provide great insight into their lives.

See you around sometime and best wishes for the future.

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter
@imallie
@Moonflower
@Susan_Rose

I think I confused things with that explanation - I'm actually Simone. The Anna thing was one of the reasons I picked the username, it being a non-specific female name. Sorry, I didn't mean to get you in a muddle!

Yes, extremely lucky feels like an understatement but I think it's becoming more prevalent as time goes on. More and more people are becoming visible as their true selves and more and more cis people are realising that we're just people too. In the social group I'm in (which is mostly quite urban and alternate which isn't the same as everywhere) relationships with trans people are becoming commonplace, which can only be a good thing.

I've been reading your blog too, hope the wilds of Australia are treating you well. 

Welcome Simone!

Chrissy