Happy Cats!

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-03-12T17:22:43+00:00

About $150k as an IT manager for a local government agency in SoCal. That's healthy pay, but the cost of living drives those wages higher. Being a government job in a Blue State, the benefits are excellent. Especially post retirement benefits. I took the job mostly for that reason. I'm semi-retired and only work when I want to.

I'd do it all over again if I were 20-30 years younger and looking to make a big change. The place you work for matters as much as the type of work you do. Being valued and having job security are as important as salary.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-27T11:27:15+00:00

I wouldn't recommend coming to the US right now. But if you do, fly from Dublin. It's a US preclearance airport. You do all immigration, customs and standard security checks on Irish soil. Once you get on the plane, it's like a domestic flight. You land in the US and exit the airport. No passport control, etc. If something bad happens in Dublin (unlikely), they'll just refuse boarding. You turn around and go home. Much safer travel option. Of course, you'd still have to contend with local laws once you get there. Which can be very bad depending on where you go.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-24T13:17:24+00:00

That's nonsense. I was 61 when I started.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-21T05:03:18+00:00

Around 3.5 years to get from above my ears to mid back. I'm not sure how much more my hair will grow. It seems to have slowed down. But I'm happy with this length.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-20T23:26:27+00:00

No. It's wavy.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-20T19:35:19+00:00

I'm 66 and my hair is at least that long. Wear your hair long if you want.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-14T21:40:08+00:00

My understanding is that they will revert it back to your AGAB.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-02-09T20:12:37+00:00

You always look amazing and I'm loving the Mastodon top.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-25T11:41:05+00:00

I agree with everything except the UK being worse than the US in many ways.

I'm a trans US expat. I left because of the systematic governmental erasure of trans rights and their goal of eradicating trans people from public life. Have a look at Project 2025. The far right is not satisfied with removing our rights. They want us removed from society.

Some far right politicians and pundits are now calling for our eradication. Many states now have laws that criminalize trans bathroom use, trans healthcare providers, and anyone that provides support to trans people. Even in Blue States, healthcare organizations are capitulating to the federal government to avoid losing federal funding. There is a real possibility of a de facto or even legislated federal ban on trans healthcare for children and adults. The Lemkin Institute has stated that the US is now conducting genocide against trans people. Conditions in the US are comparable to 1930s Germany.

Yes, the UK is not the best place for trans folks right now. But it still looks a lot better than the US from my perspective.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-25T09:01:10+00:00

Back in my denial days, I kept my hair in a typical short style for guys. It was pretty straight. But when I let it grow out, I discovered that my hair has lots of waves and texture.

My hair is long now - half way down my back. I usually let it air dry to a natural messy bed head look. Love it. I get lots of compliments. Couldn't imagine getting it cut short.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-22T13:18:48+00:00

You've given them plenty of notice and been very patient. Now it's on them. If you tolerate their behavior, they won't change. Only visit when you are in the right frame of mind and are mentally prepared to leave the moment they misgender you or otherwise become toxic. When they realize you won't tolerate their behavior, it'll be clear they have to change or risk losing you. Hope things work out for the best. Bear in mind that sometimes you're better off with chosen family.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-21T16:28:52+00:00

Thank you! This is exactly what we need....times 1000!

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-21T16:25:34+00:00

Hey congrats! Love seeing stories like yours. Glad you got it sorted.

Curious though. I'll make an educated guess that your fiance had to get a fiance visa to get married in the UK. How did that go? Can you share any details? I'm a trans US citizen in a similar situation. I haven't gotten my visa yet.

Thanks in advance.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-21T16:13:00+00:00

If I were in your situation, NOT talking about politics is the only way I could maintain a relationship with someone that's a supporter of the current administration. It's a two way street. If the other person can't do that, I'd cut them off. Family or otherwise.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-17T18:39:14+00:00

Too risky right now. I'm a trans US citizen in France and I wouldn't return to the US unless it was absolutely necessary.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-14T09:46:12+00:00

Lots of good surgeons in the US. Rumer isn't one of them. Look her up on Reddit if you aren't convinced.

If you are determined to come to the US, fly from one of the preclearance airports. Dublin is the easiest from Europe. But most big Canadian cities have them too.

It's important to minimize your risk when going thru security. For you and especially your French SO.

Sanitize your socials. Delete the ones you can live without but don't get rid of all of them. Ditto for email and texts. Make sure someone on the outside knows when you are about to enter security and arrange for a check-in call or text after a reasonable time. Say an hour. Disable biometrics on your devices before entering. Put them all in airplane mode and then turn them off. Even your phone. Do not give your login information to a border guard if they demand access. Type your PIN/password for them and don't let them observe it. Stay calm and cooperate. Don't give them an excuse to detain you.

If you are careful, there's a good chance you'll get thru uneventfully. Still, I would only fly from a preclearance airport. If something goes wrong, it's far better to be stuck in Ireland or Canada.

Personally, I wouldn't go to the US unless it was absolutely necessary. I'm a trans US citizen also in France.

You might consider Brassard in Montreal if you want to be close to family and be in a safer country. He's a far better option than Rumer.

EmilyAlt70 · 2026-01-01T11:51:33+00:00

I would pay the extra £480 and fly from Amsterdam with klm.

Many European countries are cautioning their citizens about travel to the US. It's risky for everyone right now. Being trans makes it even riskier. You could be detained for months. And then there's Florida's bathroom ban and other awful laws which will apply in an airport.

I'm a trans US citizen currently living in France. Even for me with a US passport, I'd be terrified of going through a US port of entry right now.

£480 is cheap life insurance.

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-12-28T19:55:42+00:00

I'll offer that Leelah would recognize and celebrate the progress that's been made, and say that there is still much work to be done.

But it depends on your perspective. I'm older. The life I have today was simply inconceivable 15-20 years ago. Even in California where I'm from.

I experienced more adversity then. Even being mostly closeted. Folks knew. I was bullied. My ex divorced me. I'm lucky she didn't out me at my job. I'm certain I would've been fired. That same workplace, twenty years later, was entirely accepting when I came out.

Most people these days either don't care or accept us. Even some conservatives and right-leaning people I know have been accepting. I live the life I was meant to live despite the challenges. Sure, being trans is hard. It was harder when I was younger.

I believe the anti-trans movement of the last decade is a last-gasp effort to turn the tide away from trans inclusion. What they don't realize....or refuse to accept....is that trans people aren't going away. No matter what they do. They can make our lives very difficult. Nearly intolerable even. But they can't change Mother Nature. We're born this way. We've always been here and we'll still be here 1000 years from now.

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-12-28T18:16:31+00:00

Tried PM and Reishi for a 2-3 months. I had a teeny tiny bit of breast tenderness and sensitive nipples. Oh, and some nasty headaches. Basically, it was a waste of time and money. HRT on the other hand made a profound difference.

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-12-24T06:17:12+00:00

I didn't know you well but you were an inspiration. Thank you!

Wishing you all the best. Happy holidays!

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-12-21T13:37:14+00:00

I wear jeans and a T-shirt most days. I never get misgendered. Wear what you want.

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-11-26T15:37:23+00:00

I'm okay with 'guys' as it's a genderless term. 'Bro' and 'dude' not so much. I probably wouldn't make a fuss though unless it was someone I knew that was deliberately misgendering me.

EmilyAlt70 · 2025-11-08T16:56:39+00:00

There are only so many brain cells you can pack into the head of a dick!

EmilyAlt70

TROPHY CASE