Escape Strategies When Out in Public?

At the point I am now If I do run into someone I know,I make a quick desission. If I feel this is a good time and place to come out to them I do, otherwise I I will try to go the other way and 'hide
. . Cassie

Just make sure when entering a area where the entry and exist at.  Bound to meet some sooner or later know Just act natural. There were times I been to the mall and bumped into my sister in law brothers and mother. Of course they all know I am out and in the process of transitioning to a woman.

Donna

Agree that it is bound to happen at some point as we do go out multiple times per week. Good advice on the exits.

Immediately roll into a fetal position and cry. 😉

😂

Hello April.

I think you can overthink these things sometimes....most of the time if you see someone you know, just put your heels into reverse, turn around and leave.

Worrying about seeing someone around every corner, could put you off going out at all. I know it's dead easy to say, but I just go out to enjoy it....getting struck by lightning or being hit by a bus doesn't cross my mind either....

Best wishes, Grace x

Well, on the off chance that you actually get recognised, just act naturally - after all, this won't be the last time you see them!

Don't volunteer excuses, wait for the questions, and if they never come, all good.

If you do get questioned, think fast!

Do you give a line like you're doing it for a dare? Going to a costume party? Your wife suggested you try being a woman for a while to see what it's like?

By all means have something prepared in case of the awkward questions, but you're not breaking any laws or doing anything wrong, so don't behave like you are 😍😍😍😍😍

Amen Grace, try not to think!  I mean over think. 😂😂. I actually ran into my mother one day fully dressed and she didn’t recognize me. Having your SO on hand gives people something to relate you with and that would be the only catch. I just don’t worry (think) about it and enjoy life.
🍷C

I generally don’t worry about others seeing me as they just won’t recognize me as my male self. If I do see someone I know don’t “act” quickly to exit stage left I just casually move on so as not to bring attention to myself. Over the years I have walked face to face with people that know my guy self and never had a second quizzical look, but I did have a male coworker once give me a serious scoping me out look and a flirty hi how are you, but never realized he was looking at a guy or me specifically. Talked with him at work the next day and he obviously had no clue. So no exit plan here, just continue to enjoy my day.
🍷C

The people you know aren't necessarily going to recognise you dressed are they? However it is your wife that may draw the attention if they know her and you. Then you would have to play it cool and deal with any after questions should they come. 

I used to fear bumping into people I knew. It happened a few times out and about. No one recognised me as I was not the person they usually see. One time I was in a restaurant the whole evening with friends and a neighbour was sitting on an adjacent table all evening. I know she looked around and in our direction but nothing was ever said. 

There are some good ideas the girls here are giving and think up some of your own. It can be part of the coming out going out process.

There is always a risk no matter how careful you are. Just adopt the idea that there is nothing to fear but fear itself and just carry on going out.

To all the wonderful ladies, thanks so much for your introspection and fantastic tips on this subject. Extensive thought was placed into many of your comments ranging from the why be concerned to this is a moment of truth when liberating oneself to enjoying the outdoors when fully dressed. Love the comments ladies. Thanks so much and luv you all.

- April

Yes at first I worried about it. But scene I have come out to a lot of friends they know. The thing I do is those that I don't want know. I know where they live and where they would shop. Then I just avoid that part of town. And if the occasion comes up I know that I do not look like my male self do to wig color. And there for could just look away and go the opposite direction. My confidence in my female mannerism give me the knowledge that they will not recognize me. Hope this helps any of my sisters on here.

Hugs Karen

I don't worry to much about it. I am out and about in stores and such but not that often and given that we don't know that many people to start with the risk to meet someone is very low. I mean over the last 20 years I think it's only 2-3 times we randomly meet someone we know.

Now that doesn't stop me from thinking about it and I think that I would just casually (as in no sudden moves) move away and leave the place.

If confronted (something that might happen with some neighbours) I will probably just spill the beans and come out to them. After all, what's the worst they can do? End what little friend ship we have?

I'm at a point in my life when I'm no longer worrying about to much. I actually want to come out to several people but haven't more because I want to come out to close family before neighbours and that I hope will happen later this year when we go visit them (come out as cd is something I don't want to do on some video call or so).

/kt

I have seen people I know a couple of times, but being out of context (seeing them in a place you don't normally see them) and dressed as a woman, they didn't recognize me.

But I did have one incident where  I was almost recognized.  I went to meet my friend for a play in the park.  Because it is somewhere between her home and mine, it didn't pay for me to go to her home and then back, so we decided to meet in the park.  I arrived earlier than the time we said, but I know she is usually running a bit late.  I expected her to be in her car, so I figured I'd text her and she'd see the message when she got there.  I was waiting for a few minutes, when I saw a teacher whom I knew (two of my children had her, we used to see her occasionally in the supermarket, and I see her occasionally when we have joint religious services).  As she is coming towards me, she is staring at me, as if she is trying to place me in her memory.  She kept coming towards me and it got uncomfortable.  Finally I diverted my eyes and turned away, and I think it sent a non-verbal message that she was staring.  Since I wasn't watching, I'm assuming she just looked away and walked past me.  After I calmed down a bit, I called my friend.  It turned out she was early and waiting inside.  She missed the notification that I texted, but noticed when I called.  I didn't have to go through with that anxious moment.  But I survived.

My experience tells me that unless your female appearance is different enough from your male appearance, and you are meeting them in a place where you wouldn't expect to meet (if you dress and go to the office people are more likely to recognize you than if you pass in a store), they are unlikely to give you a second look.  So as others have said, in most cases just casually turn in another direction or don't indicate that you know them and they won't give you a second glance.  Because I was standing still I had a tougher time with it.