Greetings!

[Aly]

So, I've been registered here since October and I figured it's time to introduce myself - I chose the screen name of Aly because it could be a feminine form of my actual name, and it was my favorite grandmother's name. I've been a crossdresser my whole life - my first memory of dressing stretches back to about the age of 6 or 7.

I was once caught by my Mom, wearing one of her girdles, hose, and bras when I was 7 and chastised for that. She threatened to send me to school in a dress and while I displayed the proper horror at that thought, inside I was saying "yes, please!". I have a sister who is a year older than me, and whenever we'd spend a weekend at the grandparents' house I'd "borrow" one of my sister's bras and wear it to bed. Although nothing ever got said I often wonder if my Grandmother ever discovered it - she had a habit of checking on us before she went to bed every night - she never said anything.

My teen years were uneventful - borrowing my sister's stuff whenever possible, and doing without when necessary. Then I went into the Army and got married - opportunities were few and far between but I coped. When my wife and I had been married about 15 years I decided to tell her about this side of me. She took it surprisingly well - she didn't want to be involved, but she didn't want to leave either. She gave me the freedom to dress, so long as I did it in private, and kept it away from our kids and friends. And it was forbidden from the bedroom. That worked well for me - I had no desire to go out in public, and knew that our kids (2 boys) had enough to deal with just growing up - they didn't need the additional issues that a CD Dad would bring. So, I could buy clothes but keep them hidden, dress as needed behind closed doors, and we could talk about it as either of us needed. That went on, and worked well, for about 20 years. Then I got bold and started shaving my legs, and getting regular manicures and pedicures - clear polish on my fingers and usually bright red on my toes. She put up with all that, so long as I kept my toes inside socks in front of the kids - now grown and on their own. I got bold and often wore women's sandals and block-heeled shoes and boots to work - I was a CAD Support engineer in the semiconductor industry - we were almost expected to be "eccentric"!

When we retired about 8 years ago, I asked if I could possibly dress in front of her inside the house - surprisingly she agreed! She still doesn't want me to go out, and I have no desire to go out, but I have complete feeedom to dress in the house. Her first view of me dressed I was wearing a black, knee-length pencil skirt, white cap-sleeve buttoned blouse, off-black hose, and black 4" heeled knee boots - her response: "Wow! You look really nice!" Note that I do not own a wig, and my hair is almost non-existent on top - whatever is still growing up top I keep real short - and I have a beard and moustache that both my wife and I like so I do not, in any stretch of the imagination, pass at all. I am 6' tall, and weigh 170 lbs so I can fit into a size 12 or 14, but I need size 11 or 12 shoes. I have some breast forms that fill out a B or C cup bra nicely, I have my own lingerie drawer, filled with bras, underwear, hose, etc. and there's several skirts, dresses, and blouses hanging in the closet. My wife prefers jeans, sweats, and T-shirts and we often laugh as we remark that our definitions of "comfortable" are so diametrically opposed: she gets comfortable by taking off her bra, while I get comfortable by putting mine on!

Well, I guess this is too long now - sorry for boring you all! I'll close by saying my wife and I have been happily married for over 44 years now, and she is a saint for putting up with me. I'll be lurking here often, and respond when appropriate, and maybe even post once in a while - I'm a crossdresser who is perfectly happy being confined to my house, although I have been out while underdressed often and still go to my local nail salon regularly for my mani/pedis!

[Anthony Simon]

Welcome, Aly.

[SilverLady(SO)]

Hi, Aly, and welcome to the Haven!


- SL

[KimberlyS]

Welcome to the site Aly. Nice to hear your wife is accepting and has gotten more so over the years.

[Kelly]

Greetings Aly!

I enjoyed your intro. Please don't lurk, join in the conversations.

Kel.

[DonnaT]

Hi Aly, aboard.

[Requal Jo]

Hi Aly and welcome to this happy and friendly Haven.

[PaigeK]

Welcome, Aly! And thank you for sharing your story.