Wuggle said:
Do you have any plushies/stuffies who go out to public places with you?
Yup. I have a Groudon pokémon stuffie, who I call Big Red, that goes with me most places. He's always my travel companion when I have to fly. Notable places he's been to CapCon and TeddyCon (obviously), but also the Zelda and Pokémon symphonies, the Nintendo World store, and the Empire State building. But, I have also taken stuffies with me to work. While I did telephone tech support for an online education company helping students and staff who were having trouble accessing the schools' website (that ' is not misplaced, btw) I was allowed to have stuffed animals and cuddle them, except when VIPs or other C-level people were around (which effectively was never). I now work a different position doing computer network engineering in a pretty relaxed office - I get to bring one to work and have him around while I do my thing. Yes, having a stuffie around is a big stress reliever.
Wuggle said:
I've learned to ignore the stares, and I've noticed that I get far fewer people looking at me than I had originally expected when I first started taking them out with me. People are too busy with their own lives to pay too much attention to me and my plushies. I like having them around because they make me feel safe, and we can play games together when we get bored.
This.
Big Red travels with me, held visibly in one of my arms, from the moment I step out of the car or cab dropping me off at the airport. He's there while I check-in for my flight to get my boarding pass, while the TSA agent checks my flight details, while I wait in line to be security screened, while I wait at the gate for the airplane, while I get on the plane, and with me while I sit in my seat, get off, and also wait at baggage claim. Everyone is either oblivious, doesn't notice because they're concerned about their own things, or just ignores him. For me, I've noticed that the only ones that do stare are little kids
Whenever someone else does notice Big Red, I've only ever had positive reactions. "aww that's so cute" or "Does it have a name?" etc