The biggest worry I have is not getting read, or even getting caught en femme. I can deal with that; I have been prepared for years for that eventuality.
My biggest worry is a computer failure. And I went through a winner, let me tell you.
In January, 2007, I lost my main workhorse computer. It seems that a removal program, designed to remove all traces of a well known internet security suite,
worked a little too well...and took out part of my registry as well.
This is normally fixable any number of ways, and can usually be done in a matter of a few days...unless Microsoft is rolling out one of the most innovative
operating systems of the last ten years or so. Which they were. Then, every IT geek for a three hundred mile radius is working on loading all the computers
with this new op system.
Which means repairs on old systems--like mine, which runs Windows XP--take a little longer. Like two weeks.
Two weeks without my computer was bad enough. The potential loss of data was mind-numbing.
Now, in all fairness, I'm not dumb. I do remove files for long term storage at least once every six months or sooner, and really important stuff I keep on a
jumpdrive, and back it up often. (Like the website and my checkbook, for example.) Things like digital pictures I try to remove pretty quickly after I get them
logged in, in case of such lunacy.
Except I hadn't removed some stuff since like August. Our trip to Las Vegas, the SO's birthday, my birthday, Christmas pics...plus most of the last year's work
files, some femme pics of me, and a lot of other stuff...potentially gone. Ouch.
That's just the data, kids. That doesn't include the programs, like the one I use to create and maintain this website. Which is no longer being made. Or several
other programs, that would cost me hundreds of dollars to replace.
I took my unit to the Geek Squad. At first, they thought I might need a new hard drive.
They then proceeded to perform the computerized equivalent of a miracle.
They found all the data, and backed it up. They discovered that the hard drive mechanics were sound. They then managed to get the drive functional again as
a master hard drive. (They had to reinstall part of my op system to do it, but they did it.) They even managed to save some 98% of the programs on the drive--
I have only lost one, and I'm in no hurry to replace that program.
It cost me about $400 to do all that. Plus two weeks time for a five day fix, in the middle of all the Vista hoopla.
Now I have a much more stable unit, and I've backed up all my stuff properly.
I also lost touch with folks for a few weeks, not wanting to take a chance on blowing up the HP laptop my wife often uses. That hurt as well.
In addition to getting my workhorse back, I also now have a gift of a laptop from my boss. Pentium 3 Dell, 40 Gig memory, that I can use all to myself. It's
taken me a few weeks to get it customized, but it is worth it. I even have a functioning copy of the program I use to maintain the website, so I can update
things whenever I want, and not just at certain times.
Moral of the story: One, back up everything. Often. Including your programs, if they're downloads. If you keep traces of your transsexuality on your computer,
delete them or back them up often as well. Disks are cheap, luvs. Two: if you have programs that check your system, use them. If you don't...get them
and use them. Often.
I got lucky. I didn't lose much, and my ability to continue functioning as a woman hasn't hit too many snags as a result. But the damage and the loss of certain
data could have been potentially a major loss.
And a major outing. I've been prepared to get outed...but this is not the way I would choose to do it.
