For me, just being Geena is quite a disguise (if you ever saw a boy vs. girl mode of mine). I worry more about other cues -- how I carry myself, gestures, my vehicle, etc. Consequently, I get away from where I might encounter friends or family -- about 10-30 miles from home seems to work. I can really be free when I venture up to the social group -- about 90 miles from home.
www.flickr.com/people/196660660@N08/
Wearing a face mask during the pandemic, got to be in large crowds at the casino not a second glance wearing skirt and 4" heels
I've only had two encounters with people I knew, and one of them was a "maybe". The "maybe" was when I encountered someone who looked like a friend I see once or twice a year coming out of the subway station as I was going in. She looked tired, but I wasn't sure it was her, and I am certain she didn't see the male me. The second time was a few weeks ago when I encountered neighbors walking their dogs in the dark. I just gave them a wide berth because one of the dogs was barking at me, and instead of going into my house as I'd been planning to do, I extended my walk, coming back a few minutes later after they'd gone inside.
My strategy should I ever encounter someone I know in good lighting and fairly close range is that I will not show any recognition. If I hear my name, I won't react, and I won't allow my gaze to rest on their face. That's the plan, although I don't know if I'll be able to hold to it.
Basically, people depend on context a great deal, and I'd be surprised if you haven't had occasions where you bumped into someone (not when you are en femme) whom you believed might be an acquaintance, but because they weren't where you normally see them, you weren't sure. Certainty only arrives when they respond to their name being called, or if they get into the car you know they own, etc.
Having said that, I am very close to coming out to the world and letting people get to know me as Nancy. It's kind of frightening, but I am very tired of playing hide-and-seek, and I'm so close to retirement that I can do just about whatever I want to do.
Nancy
"If you are lucky enough to find a way of life that you love, you have to find the courage to live it." -- John Irving
My makeup. even a little bit can make me look drastically different. And I have several variants of makeup too.
glasses. Hey, if it worked for Superman it should work for me.
Please remember that nobody really cares what you do.
Recently, I needed a new pair of glasses. I buy them online as they are cheaper than at the optician. The online service often do special offers of a huge discount on a second pair, so this time I chose a very feminine style as my second pair.
What a difference that made to my appearance.
Well worth a try.
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