Coincidentally

My daughter has been anxious to leave the nest for awhile now, but has been unsuccessful finding a nest to purchase. So she has decided to rent and found a studio loft apartment in a converted factory in Hartford.

We visited the apartment on Monday, fell in love with the place and she will be moving in soon.

Coincidentally, the old factory also houses the offices of an LGBT organization on my list for potential volunteering.

Originally, the organization was low on my list because I was a little leery about the neighborhood and I was not enamored about the commute to and from Hartford.

I researched the neighborhood and it turns out it is rated one of the safer neighborhoods in Hartford. And the commute is not too bad... 25 minutes door-to-door. Since I will be a volunteer, I can probably choose my hours and avoid the morning and evening rush hours, so that makes the commute even easier.

As a result, the organization is now at the top of my list.

Wearing a Prada bag and a Tahari suit (Source: Rue La La).

Freddie Mercury femulating in a music video for The Great Pretender.

Second Act

I enjoy retirement and recommend it highly, but I do have free time on my hands and I would like to use some of it productively as a woman outside of the home.

We are lucky enough to live in an area replete with museums and art galleries that are always looking for volunteers. There are also LGBT organizations in the area that welcome volunteers. And the national ham radio organization that I used to freelance for is also nearby and needs volunteers. On the other hand, a part-time job that pays would be nice, too.

So I am ready for my second act, but is the world ready for a woman like me?

I assume that the LGBT organizations would not have a problem. Museums and art galleries are usually run by open-minded folks, so they would probably be OK with me, too. But I am not so sure about the ham radio organization and paid positions.

What to do?

Wearing Tibi blazer-jumpsuit and The Range turtleneck (Source: Intermix)

Contestants in the 1974 Los Angeles Miss Cotillion pageant.

Live It

If you are part-time, why aren't you full-time?

If being a woman is such a good fit for you, the gods obviously intended that you live on the feminine side of the gender continuum (even though they erred during the installation of the plumbing).

The plumbing is a handicap, but don't let it handicap you from living the life you were intended to live.

I know I should practice what I preach, but I have an excuse, although I do live as a woman as often as I can. And you may have an excuse that is just as legitimate as mine, so you are excused.

But to the rest of you who have no excuse, you are not excused.

If you've got it, don't flaunt it --- live it!