I cant give a reasonable comment on entering the country and those details, as they are likely to change about as often as the orange man changes his diaper.   there is one thing to be very sure of, make sure you fully understand how long you are allowed to be in the USA for and dont overstay that, because it will make it exponentially more challenging to re enter the country or to move here on a longer term work or other visa. And be cautious if you are a digital nomad worker and that you dont “work” in the USA with out the right visas even if it is doing work outside the country. Just make sure your t’s are crossed and your I’s dotted. Especially if you think there might be long term possibilities with this partner.

@Willow Quinceañera is actually 15.  Its a Hispanic tradition, marking a girl's transition to being a young woman and eligible for courtship.  In some nations, its a really huge party occasion.  My stepdaughter is overly-eager by a couple of years 🙄  She's pretty serious, overall, and I wish she could just relax and enjoy being a kid while she still can.     Our community isn't exactly closed... marriage brings new people into the faith.  But dating is expected to be serious and intentional, with permission from both families.  Some families even do arranged marriage. I guess I was similar,  even on my own.  I didn't date until my 20s because I was scared, and I really didn't want the pain of a failed relationship.  GF was my first relationship, and I told her that I wouldn't move in with her or anything until I was sure she would keep me for life. My partners are stuck with me 😄     What kind of church business meetings take all day?  Money issues, maybe? Seems pretty intense!  

thanks Vicky nice to meet you

@Shira This is your first post, when you have 5 posts you can use our PM feature to try and contact the other members, although I have not seen them active in quite a long time.  Before then, please read our rules on Personal Messaging carefully. 

Chanie Elishava or Nechama or Davey, I am an orthodox Jewish man Can we be in touch 

That 1st Boston album is such a great production 

Welcome Aydhindril.  I spent years of my life trying to man up and disregard my feelings about my female identity.  As you have described i was virtually alone in my journey.  Finding this space made a big difference. You are not alone!   Hugs,   Charlize

Hello and welcome @Aydhindril!

Some happy news.  Kentville (pop. 7000), which features prominently in the story, is my nearest town.   N.S. Health works to expand access to youth gender-affirming care Andrew Lam · CBC News · Posted: May 12, 2025   Nova Scotia Health is working to expand access to youth gender-affirming care in the province by replicating a clinic model introduced in the Annapolis Valley last year. In February 2024, a youth clinic dedicated to providing this kind of health care opened in Kentville. Then another opened this March in Bridgewater, with more clinics in the works. "Accessing gender-affirming care isn't just a city thing or an urban thing," said mental health clinician Julien Davis, who is also trans.     

Thank you for your kind message and advise @Heather Shay I've been followed by a therapist since September for my depression and of course the gender question and how I see myself have been discussed quite often. I've been able to make good progress and feel more secure in being myself but it's true that I don't really know where I'm going. I guess I first need to "destroy" my past self which was (is) trying to cope as a "normal" man.   Now, I'm reaching a point where I feel like connecting with people who can relate to my journey would be beneficial. 

I heard that guitar sound in 1976 and immediately learned the rhythm guitar part and vocals for a pick up band that I joined when I moved to Cleveland from Toledo for a new job. I found out the guitarist who invented the guitar sound, wrote and recorded the album in his basement was named Tom Scholz and he was from a rich suburd ob Toledo called Ottawa Hills. I knew the area. I saw the band in Cleveland and was blown away with the group and my Toledo man. Tom had been a MIT grad, worked at Polaroid and in his spare time tinkered with guitar effects and his local Boston area bands, my favorite named Mother's Milk. Even when Boston went huge, Tom found not working an 8-5 job not to his liking so he started Scholz Electronics to build the sound device for guitar he called a Rockman.  His fanatic obsession with purety and analog sound kept him buried in his own studio, taking years to be satisfied with each recording he released. My tribute today is to my home town boy - Tom Scholz,  

Can you get used to limbo?

For a day filled with kindness, start by choosing positive affirmations, practicing mindful communication, and actively seeking opportunities to be helpful to others. Remember, even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.    Affirmations and Mindset: Practice Gratitude: Reflect on the good things in your life and express gratitude for the people and experiences that bring you joy.    Positive Affirmations: Start your day with affirmations like "My words leave an imprint on other's hearts," or "I can do kind things without being asked".    Mindful Communication: Be present in conversations, actively listen, and choose your words carefully.    Acts of Kindness: Be a Good Listener: Pay attention when others are talking, offer a listening ear, and validate their feelings.    Offer a Compliment: A genuine compliment can brighten someone's day.    Be Generous: Share your time, resources, or a kind gesture with someone who could use it.    Help Others: Offer to help with a task, take care of a pet, or simply lend a hand.    Be a Positive Force: Your positive attitude and actions can have a ripple effect on those around you.    Quotes to Inspire:   "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."    "A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money."   "You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."    "Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers."    "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." 

For a day filled with kindness, start by choosing positive affirmations, practicing mindful communication, and actively seeking opportunities to be helpful to others. Remember, even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.    Affirmations and Mindset: Practice Gratitude: Reflect on the good things in your life and express gratitude for the people and experiences that bring you joy.    Positive Affirmations: Start your day with affirmations like "My words leave an imprint on other's hearts," or "I can do kind things without being asked".    Mindful Communication: Be present in conversations, actively listen, and choose your words carefully.    Acts of Kindness: Be a Good Listener: Pay attention when others are talking, offer a listening ear, and validate their feelings.    Offer a Compliment: A genuine compliment can brighten someone's day.    Be Generous: Share your time, resources, or a kind gesture with someone who could use it.    Help Others: Offer to help with a task, take care of a pet, or simply lend a hand.    Be a Positive Force: Your positive attitude and actions can have a ripple effect on those around you.    Quotes to Inspire:   "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."    "A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money."   "You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."    "Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers."    "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." 

Welcome Aydhindril - love your name. I am so glad you found us and know we are here to answer any of your questions honestly and lovingly and based on personal journeys we been on. I found when I was exploring my Gender Identity, a wonderful workwork by a gender therapist named Dara Hoffman-Fox. The book is called Gender Identity and costs about $15 on Amazon. It gathered nearly all the questions I think were swirling around my head, organized and asked me to use my life and thoughts and wishes and help me really understand more fully who I was and help me move forward. Having a GD knowledgeable therapist also works wonders (make sure you are comfortable with whomever you find - I went to many before I found the one who really had me in mind). I know you see many answers to your introduction and I look forward to seeing and responding to them. If you have a topic or question you don't feel comfortable sharing with everyone, you can always message me and I answer as quickly as I can. I'm on daily).

Good morning   @KymmieL you never really know how family is going to react until it happens.  I got slammed pretty hard yesterday.  Our church has the men sing to the women on Mother’s Day and vice versa on Father’s Day it was raining and neither of us slept well so we decided not to go to church. I jokingly said so you don’t want the men singing to you? And she rather negatively says, I don’t have a man to sing to me and rolled over.  That one hurt more than she realizes.   I couldn’t sleep after that so I got up and laid on our couch.  Until I did.  100% chance of more rain today.  Good news/bad news. We need the rain, the store gets slow so the day is longer.  But I’m happy things are taking a turn for the better for you.   @awkward-yet-sweet and EVERYONE there’s being a mother by birth, and there is being a mother by action.  We are all mothers here.  You may not have gone physically through labor but you certainly mother the kids in your family unit.     16 for serious dating I can agree with, but supervised dates and dances or boy/girl activities I think is how kids begin to understand differences between members of the opposite sex and learn what they like and don’t like before getting committed, especially in a close (closed?) community.     well it’s almost time for me to leave for work. I won’t be on here tomorrow, I am going to an all day church meeting where we decide how we are going to do the business of the church, and this time it’s over two hours away.   Willow