I'm about 8 years younger than maddog, and remember well how the closet affected daily life for most people - though I was out to coworkers (by accidentally outing myself) by 23, and to most friends and some family by that point as well, being cautious just made sense given societal conditions.

I'm so damn glad that things have moved on to a place where "oh? Okay then!" can be the expected reaction, instead of being exceptional. it's been a v. v. interesting lifetime, and I'm eager to see what happens next.