My next-door neighbours saw me fully dressed late one night -- we were taking the same bus home, and they recognized me in about 1 1/2 seconds flat (even though I had wig and all.) I didn't talk to them on the bus, but when we got off the bus, I waited while they grabbed a snack in the corner store and then I walked home with them and answered their questions: I didn't want them to get the impression that I was running away from the situation or ashamed of what I was doing. They had no apparent problem with the idea, and they've seen me dressed in passing a few times since then (leaving the house at the same time.) The key was to react with dignity.

But more than a year before that, a co-worker saw me on one of my early outings, femme clothes but no wig yet then. He visited me in my office and mentioned having seen me (and he had the time and place dead to rights), and he made some joke about it having to do with my Scottish heritage. I said, "Uhhh, yeah, something like that." We haven't discussed the matter since, and he hasn't acted noticeably different towards me.

I think one of my co-workers was sitting about 10 feet away from me (with a fairly straight view toward me) at a key Pride drag performance in early June, but I'm not certain. I didn't hear anything about it, and as she is part-time Human Resources, she would know better than to spread stories.

In late spring, my other next-door neighbours passed within 4 feet of me in the local mall when I was wearing a skirt (and more, but the more was mostly covered by my jacket); they said "hello" with just a bit of "ummm" to it, so I think they might have noticed the skirt... they haven't treated me any differently if they have. And I've gotten more open about wearing a skirt in the yard, not worrying about if they do see me.

Any number of my co-workers might have seen me in time, and might recognized me while I was fully dressed (it seems I'm easily recognizable), or (more likely) might have seen me while I was "gender-bending". When I go to the local grocery stores in a skirt or dress, anyone might happen to see me, and I don't worry about it (well, not much.) If anyone has seen me out and around, they haven't said anything. And no-one at work has appeared to notice my pantyhose or tights or unusually-coloured knee-highs or femme pants or borderline tops (some more femme than others, but still plausible that a guy might wear it).

If a co-worker were to approach me while I was out Dressed... my reaction would probably depend upon whom it was and how respectful the approach was. If it was yelling my male name across the street, I'd be less than thrilled, because that would be exposing me to those around who might not have noticed me. But if it was a polite call across the street that didn't mention my male name, I might not take it badly. And if it was a close encounter in a mall or something like that (e.g., just happened to pass by each other)... well, it'd come down to respect (including the respect they'd given me in the past.) Some of my co-workers I would trust to respect my dressing even if they didn't understand it; a lot of my co-workers I don't know well enough to know how they would feel; a few of my co-workers I would be inclined to expect would want to try to use it against me. And some... hmm, I think some of them might feel uncomfortable enough about the matter that they might avoid chatting with me after finding out (e.g., the pretty woman who has the best clothing style and the most consistently "feminine" appearance... I'd love talk clothes with her, but somehow I get the impression that she would not think highly of me for knowing I dressed.)