I'm going the clinic route for hormones and I've done the first appointment and had the blood work done. Do any of you guys or gals have experience in writing the "five year plan?" I think they just want to make sure I understand the changes that will be happening. Anyone know how involved this has to be? Do they want a few sentences or in depth writing or do I just need to have it in my head if they ask? Here are some of the questions:

What do you expect from your body changes?
What type of education have you acquired?
Are you employed?
Transitioning on the job?
Changing jobs?
Will seek transition related therapy?
Legal name change
Peer Support
Family support/Issues
What kind of social activities will you be involved in?
Will you have a significant other?
Children?

Anybody have experience with this? I don't want to spend hours putting a big project together and then find out I just need to answer the questions if he asks or not write something up and have everything delayed...Camden

yeah, experienced guys!

(I'm really only commenting so the responses will come to my inbox lol)

but hey Camden CONGRATS on getting things going!

I've never heard of the Five Year Plan.  What is it?  Delaying or spreading your transition out over that time frame?  I don't see the point.  I've been in therapy for 5 months, on T for 2.5 months, had a hysto, and am having top surgery in 2 months.  Why wait?  I suppose if you're younger and don't have a ton of life experience I see why these people would want you to make sure, that it's not a phase, but they don't understand that being trans is NOT a phase or a choice.  But y'all know that.

What do you expect from your body changes?  To look unmistakably MALE.

What type of education have you acquired?  Doctorate

Are you employed? Yes, 1 full time job and 1 part time job for ~ 60 hrs per week

Transitioning on the job?  Yes.  Am out at 1, am giving a packet to HR at the other in a week or two

Changing jobs?  In 2-3 years time I plan to quit the fulltime job and go fulltime at the parttime job and seek other parttime employment.

Will seek transition related therapy?  Done; have 2 gender therapists.  One private, one for group.

Legal name change  Done.

Peer Support  Cultivating friends in the trans community; have the support of all friends I'm out to, and family.

Family support/Issues  They don't understand but are supporting me the best they know how.  I'm supposed to pray about this.

What kind of social activities will you be involved in?  Already am.  Hope to get involved in some charity work after top surgery has healed, next summer.

Will you have a significant other?  I hope to, some day.

Children?  Have them, don't plan on any more unless future s/o wants them.

Jay

I was never given anything like that to do. I can see how they'd want you to have considered all those areas. Ask the therapist whether he or she wants you to put it in writing or just think about them.

Dennis

I have heard about this but I haven't had to do anything like it.

Quote from: sneakersjay on October 09, 2008, 10:28:11 PM

Family support/Issues  They don't understand but are supporting me the best they know how.  I'm supposed to pray about this.
Jay

You're supposed to pray about this? What, like you're doing it on a whim? I think THEY need to pray. LOL

Quote from: iFindMeHere on October 10, 2008, 11:20:53 AM

Quote from: sneakersjay on October 09, 2008, 10:28:11 PM

Family support/Issues  They don't understand but are supporting me the best they know how.  I'm supposed to pray about this.
Jay

You're supposed to pray about this? What, like you're doing it on a whim? I think THEY need to pray. LOL

Yeah, that was my mother's advice yesterday.  You know, God made you the way you are, you should pray before you go changing things.  She doesn't get it, but if that's the worst she does I'm lucky compared to some guys and girls.  I guess if Palin says you can pray away the gay, I should be able to pray away the trans.  Clueless.  It's like transition or DIE.  Oh well.  Maybe I should tell her I prayed for decades to be Normal and I ended up depressed and suicidal.  Transitioning is the only way to be normal.

Jay

I would think its a list of things that they want to know you've though through.  Not a bad idea.

Quote from: sneakersjay on October 10, 2008, 11:38:40 AM

Quote from: iFindMeHere on October 10, 2008, 11:20:53 AM

Quote from: sneakersjay on October 09, 2008, 10:28:11 PM

Family support/Issues  They don't understand but are supporting me the best they know how.  I'm supposed to pray about this.
Jay

You're supposed to pray about this? What, like you're doing it on a whim? I think THEY need to pray. LOL

Yeah, that was my mother's advice yesterday.  You know, God made you the way you are, you should pray before you go changing things.  She doesn't get it, but if that's the worst she does I'm lucky compared to some guys and girls.  I guess if Palin says you can pray away the gay, I should be able to pray away the trans.  Clueless.  It's like transition or DIE.  Oh well.  Maybe I should tell her I prayed for decades to be Normal and I ended up depressed and suicidal.  Transitioning is the only way to be normal.

Jay

yeah, a friend of mine's very jeebusite parents (s/he was talking to them about me) "why does she use the mens bathroom?" and s/he told them i'm a transman, they go "g-d doesn't make mistakes!" i really want to say to them, "Who are you to question what g-d put before me? How do you know I'm not here as a lesson to teach you to be more openminded?" but i probably won't.

It's just stupid, i mean, where's the line? does that mean everyone with cancer should die? does it mean people with diabetes shouldn't get insulin shots?

I've done a five year plan. Not by anyone's request, but just as a way of figuring out where I want to go and the steps I need to get there. I've found it to be pretty useful.

They probably just want to make sure you've really thought everything out.

Five years plans are not all that bad as long as you work the plan, and remain flexible in it.  But working toward goals, knowing what steps come before others, can eliminate a lot of problems by not letting them arise in the first place.

Thanks everyone for your input! I think I will put all the questions/answers down on paper kind of like a report and them stuff it in my pocket. That way I'm covered if I was supposed to write it out. Also, I won't feel like a complete nerd if all I was supposed to do was think about all of it! I'll let you know what happens. It's still another week away! LOL But, only another week, just one more week, I can do one more week, MAN a week can be so long sometimes! Camden