[-] fmtx 3 points 1 month ago

This is beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[-] fmtx 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I was faced with a similar decision many years ago. At the time, I don't think I could have enumerated all the problems I saw as clearly as you did above. Instead I was just filled with a vague sense of dread about trying to make a life in the US vs. a hopeful opportunity abroad. It made any long term planning nearly impossible, and it became clear that the future was somewhere beyond for me.

It was a good decision. It was still hard, as life tends to be. Culture shock hits hard after about one year and the glow of the honeymoon period wears off, and then a longer term acclimation process begins. Strictly staying within the social circle of the expat bubble is not recommended. Becoming part of the community, putting down roots, learning language, forming new friendships, following the different laws and social customs are all long term deep challenges. It also means family and friends are more distant. Those relationships change for better and worse.

Seek a good US tax specialist accountant early on for advice. The US still expects citizens to file taxes and report FBAR, even if the amount of tax owing is zero due to tax treaties.

Final advice: Whatever you choose, do it for positive reasons. The long term is a marathon and you need something to sustain you. It's better to run towards something rather than run away.

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago

Single bead of sweat forms on my forehead, followed by a laser dot.

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Speedrun any %, a defense strategy whitepaper on China, without using words "Red, Tiger, Dragon, Sino-, Mao, soft power, 5-year plan, or paper. "

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago

Reagan is in hell waiting for heaven to trickle down.

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago

In retrospect, it's funny to me now that I was feeling afraid and sick to my stomach to the point of shaking and nearly throwing up, and their response was just so relaxed and cool. I asked if they weren't surprised and the answer was no.

Like... WHO AM I FOOLING? ONLY MYSELF? DID EVERYONE ELSE GET THE MEMO FIRST?

[-] fmtx 3 points 2 months ago

Ugh, same. Can't bear to think how many people I must have alienated or hurt with such behavior. I suppose there's nothing to be done about the past, but listen to its lessons to be better, kinder me in the future.

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago

Your comment made me realize with new clarity how much male relationships are built on a shock factor comedic antics and edgy humor, which include casual homophobia and misogyny, racism or just generally "punching down."

But also, ick.

[-] fmtx 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Me too female sign emoji hexadecimal, me too.

Hugs.

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

🎶

I can't see clearly now dysphoria's gone.

I can clear all obstacles to my peace.

We're all our worst critics in our own heads.

Wanna see your bright, bright beautiful smile.

🎶

[-] fmtx 5 points 2 months ago

I'm afraid to ask, but was balding an issue for you? (You mentioned several decades.) And is there anything to be done? I'm having next level dysphoria about my hair right now.

[-] fmtx 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Had my own That Dream recently.

You know how in the movie Interstellar, there is the tesseract, an endless matrix grid showing moments in space and time?

In the dream I am in my own Trans Tesseract, seeing images of myself at future points in time going through the various stages of transition.

Woke up and my first thought was, "What a very normal cishet dream. I think I need to check some things..."

view more: ‹ prev next ›

fmtx

joined 2 months ago