They were obviously planning it, and I'm certain they scheduled it as a birthday surprise for you! I hope joy and happiness continue to follow you around, and give you frequent hugs.

Love always -- Jess

I hope you have been doing well Sara.

Merry Christmas!


Chrissy

Hi everyone!

I know I have been gone for quite some time now, and I just thought that it would be nice to give a quick update.  I'm sure you know how it is... life gets busy, then you come back and see that many of your close friends no longer post.  It's hard to get motivated to build a bunch of new relationships!  Anyway, a few of you may remember me, and a "HELLLLOOO!!" to all those who don't!

Here goes—

I'm coming up on 2.5 years since I made the full transition.  I'm doing well, but there is definitely a dark cloud that exists for all of us right now, especially for those of us living in red states.  The Texas legislature is doing everything possible to make sure I know I'm not wanted, and that hurts.  It's not anything HUGE that I can't deal with — it is the constant little micro-aggressions that are meant to make me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.  It is something akin to being a black man and watching white women clutch their purses just a little more as I walk by.  I'm sure you get it.

Like I tell my family and friends, there is ZERO problem with anyone who actually knows me.  I am loved and treated well by all in my "circle".  It is the stuff going on outside the circle that is a problem.  Ever since Trump took office, the bigots have been emboldened.  I have been hurt to see posts on Facebook by people I "thought" were supportive.  Sad.

Anyway, I have started planning for my escape.  I put my house on the market and have moved into an apartment.  I want to stick around until Emy graduates (another 2 years), but I'm getting myself ready to skip town at a moment's notice if things get really bad before then.  At that point, it may be CA, MA, or maybe even out of the country.  I'd love to move to Norway or Denmark, but my easiest path into the EU is Portugal.

I hope everyone is doing well!

~Sara

Hi Sara!

Welcome back!

I, too, am escaping from a Red State. I am currently in the process of moving from South Dakota to Colorado. I already have a place ready and waiting for me. I am just tying up loose ends here before I start physically moving, which should be around or right after the 4th of July.

For safety and acceptance, MA ranks very high on the charts. CA is also good, but it is very expensive. CO is cheaper depending on how far south of Denver you go. I am preparing to leave the country if needed, but the recent protests against the regime give me hope that the citizens in most states are tired of the BS. So, I'll hang out in CO and see how things develop.

Wishing you and yours all the best. Let us know how things work out.

Hugs!

Sara!!!

Welcome back beautiful sister!!! You have been missed!...We have lots of room for you out here in California and likely a lot of jobs in your field as well... Come dip your toe in sometime!... The water is fine and I would be happy to show you around and share a lifetime of CA knowledge!

Onward Brave Sister!

A 💕

Welcome back Sara!

Chrissy

Hi, Sara, and welcome back.

I'm one of those new people you don't know (yet), but I've read some of your posts and feel like I know you. What you've contributed here has made a difference for me and, I'm sure, others.

I'm glad your personal life is settling out but sorry that the larger outer world is becoming hostile for all of us. I firmly believe this is a short-term setback and that we'll get through this and continue to make gains. Until then, it only makes sense to do what you need to do to feel safe and contented.

I wish you the very best in your search for peace and happiness.

Pema

Welcome back, Sara!

What do you mean you may leave Texas? According to the Movement Advancement Project map: https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps , if you select the 'State Data Table' and sort on the 'Gender Identity Score', Texas ranks #41 out of all the states and territories (total of 56). Compared to where I am, Texas is quite friendly! Arkansas is at #53.

I have an agent (real estate) in the field now checking out some houses in Colorado (#6 on the list) today. There's a good chance we'll be moving there within a year.

We're always happy to see you drop by for a visit. Wherever you go, know that we will always be here for you. Good luck, sister.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

Waves from the UK, good to see you are doing okay.XXX

Sara

Happy to see your post. Even more so to hear you have such a great group of people in your "circle".

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMLike I tell my family and friends, there is ZERO problem with anyone who actually knows me.  I am loved and treated well by all in my "circle".

Ellen

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMHi everyone!

I know I have been gone for quite some time now, and I just thought that it would be nice to give a quick update.  I'm sure you know how it is... life gets busy, then you come back and see that many of your close friends no longer post.  It's hard to get motivated to build a bunch of new relationships!  Anyway, a few of you may remember me, and a "HELLLLOOO!!" to all those who don't!

Hello Sara, I'm Lilis.

I'm fairly new around here, well, not that new anymore, haha!

Just wanted to say, welcome back! It's always nice to see familiar faces return. 😊

~ Lilis 🫂

Hi Sara

Sara, Sara, Sara!  It's so good to hear from you, just the other day I was looking at your profile and wondering how you was going.  Anyway since it has been awhile, I must do the obligatory welcome back message. . . . .

Hi Sara

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

I see that other members of Susan's have also welcomed you back as well.

. . . . . . . . . .

Take care and all the best for the future.

Once again, Welcome back to Susan's Place!

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

---

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMHi everyone!

I know I have been gone for quite some time now, and I just thought that it would be nice to give a quick update.  I'm sure you know how it is... life gets busy, then you come back and see that many of your close friends no longer post.  It's hard to get motivated to build a bunch of new relationships!  Anyway, a few of you may remember me, and a "HELLLLOOO!!" to all those who don't!

I guess you really do not need the welcome message back, you know your way around the site without me showing you how.  Just like me, when I left Susan's in 2012 and came back 12 years later.  As you mentioned, "life just gets in the way."  Yes, some members have moved on to live "The Good Life"[1], new members join and some members come back to see what is happening.

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMHere goes—

I'm coming up on 2.5 years since I made the full transition.  I'm doing well, but there is definitely a dark cloud that exists for all of us right now, especially for those of us living in red states.  The Texas legislature is doing everything possible to make sure I know I'm not wanted, and that hurts.  It's not anything HUGE that I can't deal with — it is the constant little micro-aggressions that are meant to make me feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.  It is something akin to being a black man and watching white women clutch their purses just a little more as I walk by.  I'm sure you get it.

Wow, wow, wow!  2.5 years since you changed your life around.  Yes you are right, there is a dark cloud and even here in Australia there are a couple of situations on the horizon to speak off.  The situation that is currently going on in America and United Kingdom is not to dissimilar to what happened in regards to the Civil Rights Movement or the "Lesbian Gay and Bisexual civil rights movement."

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMLike I tell my family and friends, there is ZERO problem with anyone who actually knows me.  I am loved and treated well by all in my "circle".  It is the stuff going on outside the circle that is a problem.  Ever since Trump took office, the bigots have been emboldened.  I have been hurt to see posts on Facebook by people I "thought" were supportive.  Sad.[/qoute]

My family of course knows about me and I'm loved and accepted by them and there has never been any problems whatsoever.  It's nice to know your family accepts you for who you are and it's good to hear there are success stories.

No one outside of my family knows about me except for a couple of doctors, so I'm not plagued by the ignorant gossip, casual cruelty, spiteful whispers, judgemental stares, hostile comments and knee jerk rejection that strangers often aim at anyone they decide is different and that bigots love to hurl from behind their screens the moment a rumour escapes into the wild from the safety of their homes.

The following is a list of groups that are pro actively endangering the LGBTQ communities and by no means is the list complete.

• Alliance Defending Freedom
• Family Research Council (FRC)
• Liberty Counsel
• American Family Association (AFA)
• American Principles Project.
• American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds)
• Westboro Baptist Church (WBC)

Alliance Defending Freedom and Family Research Council whose budgets are around $102 and $22 million dollars respectively, run campaigns that are easily measured in the multi million dollar range confirmed by their own financial filings.  So yeah, no wonder why there is so much backlash.

Quote from: TXSara on Yesterday at 09:56:03 AMAnyway, I have started planning for my escape.  I put my house on the market and have moved into an apartment.  I want to stick around until Emy graduates (another 2 years), but I'm getting myself ready to skip town at a moment's notice if things get really bad before then.  At that point, it may be CA, MA, or maybe even out of the country.  I'd love to move to Norway or Denmark, but my easiest path into the EU is Portugal.

I hope everyone is doing well!

~Sara

So you are planning "The Great Escape?"[2]  I'm hoping that things go well and what is Emy going to graduate in?  So please do not be a stranger (in a Strange Land)[3], keep in contact even though less frequently.

Wishing all your dreams come true.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@ TXSara

[1] The Good Life
[2] The Great Escape
[3] Stranger in a Strange Land