Exactly 10 weeks ago, I sympathised with a friend who was recently widowed and came home very drunk for the first time in 30 years of marriage. In the morning while I slept it off my wife (as a punishment I think) threw out all my female items which were openly in my closet. I lost my favourite dresses and lingerie, my best shoes and handbags, almost all my make-up and jewellery, all my expensive nightgowns, my breastforms and a few wigs. I had thought she was ok with my dressing but she now insists it is perverted and insists that I quit or leave. A week after this happened I was away for a few days and during that time she did a thorough search of the house and discarded any other items she found.
Here's the thing. I had anticipated the second purge and managed to hide a number of dresses and some lingerie in a very secret place that she has no access to. I deliberately left a few items in more obvious places for her to find. In total she chucked out around 30 dresses and commented that I had owned more than her.
My wife is now out of town for a few days and I have gone to my secret hiding place and purged a further 130 dresses including some wedding gowns and a load of lingerie and shoes. I haven't bought anything new during this time. All the items have gone to charity shops.
Thing number two: I am writing this post in my very private back garden. Anyone observing me (they can't though) would see a woman with long fair hair in a very pretty summer dress and red heels. I couldn't take it any longer and feel great. I still have around 60 dresses left in my secret place. (If you have been counting I had 220 dresses)
I now have to be very, very careful and will only dress when I have a few days on my own. In my heart I know the right thing would be to clear out everything but I'm not ready just yet. Throwing out 75% of my dresses today was pretty hard and I'm resolved to buying no more and possibly slowly purging a few more things.
I'd appreciate any observations.