Hobby or life style? Crossdressing is what to you?

[Di]

There of course is no right or wrong way to be a crossdresser..
I know some here call it a hobby.
Is it a hobby because of time restraints?
I have read from others it is a distraction from their regular life.
It relaxes them .
With my Sherlyn it just was who she was.
Each crossdresser has a unique experience and view.
How do you view crossdressing in your life ?

[docrobbysherry]

Both for me, Di.:)

My lifestyle: I spend most of my socializing time out dressed at T friendly clubs, bars, and events.:hugs:

Hobby: I spend most of my alone time planning and filming adventures and twisted, kinky stories featuring Sherry as the heroine or downtrodden dupe!:tongueout

[kimdl93]

Over the years, I have sometimes tried to justify my desire (and preference) to dress as a woman as a hobby or harmless kink. . I am not sure I would consider it a lifestyle either. I am thinking clearly and being honest with myself, the need is a part of who I am, and has been rooted deeply within me since my earliest recollections.

[DianeT]

Since I do it very infrequently, it may seem like a hobby. But no hobby gives me the same thrills (the closest is deep scuba diving), so it's clear there is something deeper.

[Natalie5004]

For me i call it a hobby. I do not feel I should have been born a woman. I have a great life as it stands now.

But it is a good distraction for me to let loose and doll up on occasion. My wife thinks I am nuts to do it. But I very much enjoy my Natalie time. I get a big thrill at the woman looking back at me in the mirror.

Plus I have been drawing to dressing even as a young person, so I will continue to work it.

Today I have my first pair of tights on vs my normal pantyhose. Wow what a different feeling this is.

[Jillcder]

Hobby for me in fact its my favorite hobby!

[Chiffon]

A good question to consider.

Looking back, when I was single and able to do it everyday, I did not. After getting married (and keeping it hidden) is was infrequent and dependent on when she was gone from the house for extended times.

Was it a hobby? I certainly loved doing it but the word hobby seems inappropriate because I could not do it whenever I wanted. I could live without doing my hobbies, but not doing or thinking about CDing is not an option. On the other hand, life style, in my case, does not seem to fit either.

It's a part of my life that's desired and a necessity, so maybe it's a part-time life style and more than a hobby?

[Doven]

HI Di. iwood say mostly lifestyle for me with some hobie two. After retiring it cand of pink fog took over me . life is to short to not enjoy!!! Doven

[RachelB.]

This is how I am. Wearing a dress and heels is as normal to me as jeans and t-shirt. As I get older the women's clothing get a lot more wear.

[sara66]

It's more than a hobby, but less than a lifestyle.
Sara

[Brenda Freeman]

When I am dressed enfemme, I am my happiest. When I am not dressed I am thinking about it! It is always there in someway so maybe a lifestyle.

[Sandi Beech]

Hi Di,

Lump me into the group who consider it more than a hobby but less than a lifestyle.

There are certainly elements which resemble a hobby. I tend to get carried away with shopping for true hobbies as well as for dressing up. Either can be an obsession.

I think the difference for me is that my hobbies are a kind of creative outlet but without the emotional connection that crossdressing has. Crossdressing has a very complex interaction with my brain that a hobby will never have.

I do feel my troubles melt away when I go out. That distraction has some benefits but does not come without risk.

I consider myself quite lucky to have been able to experience going out many times, while having great acceptance and interactions with others.

Sandi

[Stephanie Michelle]

For me it is just something that I have always done. Since my divorce 15 years ago I dress more although only go out on a drive at night in the colder months. I enjoy it. As some others have said its just feels right. I don't want to be 24/7. I dress enough to satisfy my want to dress.

[JohnH]

Dresses are my go to clothing except for wearing trousers on an occasional basis. And for formal wear I add nail varnish (polish), makeup, and heels. So I would say free styling (cross dressing) is a lifestyle for me. And you can guess from my signature block I do not have a feminine persona.

John

[Fiona_44]

Di,

I live full time as a woman so it is just basically my life.

[NancySue]

It was a hobby, until my retirement. It?s now my life style, as I dress, including makeup, daily.
And am very happy.

[Di]

I love hearing about everyone’s life.
Thanks for sharing with me everyone.

[Joanne Curl]

It’s definitely not a hobby for me, it’s much more than that. It’s who I am. Even though I don’t get to dress as Joanne often, it’s always part of me. I just don’t get to experience as much as l would like to.

[Bea_]

It's not a hobby for me. I guess it could be called a lifestyle, but it's a lifestyle that expresses my identity. Like you say about Sherlyn, it's just who i am. I'm still dealing with the evolution of my taste vs what i allow the world to see.

Now the shopping... that's the hobby part. The thrill of the hunt.

[Veronica Lacey]

While my wife knows of and accepts that I dress in women's clothing the trade off is that it is done on my own private time and not to be seen by her. It's amicable.

Given this arrangement I currently regard my penchant for wearing femme attire primarily as a hobby. To add to the fun of this hobby I also shop online in private although never with her assistance (nor interest). I'd love to share some of my finds with her and why I like them but it's agreed that I don't.

Should my wife ever warm to me wearing what I wish, as I wish, then perhaps it all might morph closer to being a lifestyle. I feel rather comfortable and normal wearing panties, bras, heels, dresses, blouses and skirts (and then some) in everyday living at home yet cannot imagine doing so 24/7/365. I am happy being a male that enjoys wearing more than just stereotypical male garb.

As I have no interest in dressing in public perhaps dressing could never amount to a lifestyle yet it certainly feels like a part of me.

[Raychel]

Thanks for starting this thread Di, It will definitely be interesting to hear everyone views..

For me it was just like a hobby for a while, Working and life certainly got in the way.
Now as I have gotten more comfortable with myself I find that this is really part of me
that I just need to accept. When I am home it is full on Raychel time. If I have to go out
somewhere, then I have to turn back to guy mode, I find that I really dont like that mode all that much

No longer a hobby, Now just part of who I am.

Thanks again for the thread. :)

[Susan_Michaela]

It might have been a hobby 10 years ago for me but as time has gone on it?s actually turned into a lifestyle for me. One I got tire of hiding this side of me and I?ve gotten myself refined as far as makeup and such I can do my face in no longer than 20 minutes. I?d say the typical genuine GG can do that herself daily. They?ve been doing it all their life so it?s second nature to them. I as I?ve stated before have gone to 24/7/365 lifestyle and I?m comfortable with myself. A nice thing is people around me show me the respect I think they should. I am polite and respectful to them and get the same from them. Like today I went to see my physician and everyone in their office calls me Michaela or mam and always making comments on either what I?m wearing or shoes etc. Today it was my shoes, I purchased a new pair of 3? heel booties. Several have commented on them, even when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my scripts the day before.

[Mary Loo]

Good thread to clarify the diversity or spectrum of members and posters here.

Personally I would classify it as a hobby, but a solitary one that I can only share with this community and no one else. Though my wife is aware, and somewhat tolerant, she certainly isn?t happy about it. Due to my love for her and to avoid the potential pain it would cause her, it is just a hobby for me at home only.

I don?t have any desire to live my life as a woman, and have always been completely comfortable and happy with my gender and my life, but I have also always enjoyed the feeling and look in the mirror of wearing women?s clothes. It has only been in the last 2 years that I added my own clothes, forms, shoes, wigs, and very very rarely makeup (hence still not very proficient or proud of the makeup results). Prior to joining this forum, I never even entertained the thought of being in public, but reading about it and thinking about it seems fun. The thing that I would most enjoy is shopping en Femme and being able to try on so many things for free. However, reality says it still likely will never happen, so I just enjoy living through others? stories and posts.

Thus just a hobby and like any hobby you ramp up your equipment and investment over time. I can?t envision it ever going away, but because I don?t want family or friends to be aware it will always just be a hobby.

[Heather76]

It's what I do to whatever extent I can at the time. If I could be 100% dressed 100% of the time, I would. That would make it a lifestyle, I think. But, I can't so I don't. So, I guess that makes it a hobby.

[Amy Lynn3]

It is who I am. I can't change and have dressed as much as time constraints permit all my life. I started before grade school with panties and girdle, and it grew from there. It will be fine with me if you want to call it either or for me as I have never really attached a label on what I do. Di, as you stated, it is just who I am.

[bridget thronton]

It is part of who I am - I like wearing dresses and heels and likely will do just that every day when I retire in 3 years

[mbmeen12]

How do you view crossdressing in your life?

It is a means of mental and physical expression.

[alwayshave]

Given my current time restraints it is a hobby. Someday, I hope to make it a lifestyle.

[GretchenM]

Great question, Di.

For me it is no hobby. It is a part of an adaptation to living with an undifferentiated gender identity. Since I was able to sense an identity probably at 2 or 3 years old my identity has been variable and fairly ambiguous, sometimes more male-like, sometimes neutral, and sometimes more female-like. The adaptive variability is driven, in part, by the prevailing requirements of the social environment I am currently in. If, for example, I am with a woman or more women than men I will shift to the more female-like mode if I deem it appropriate to most completely connect with others. But in other situations I will be more male-like or neutral.

I find the female-like mode the most comfortable in an all around identity, but blended in to that are distinctive male-like behaviors that are of less importance but fully available if needed. In some thinking this is the essence of psychological androgeny. It is also fully consistent with the modern Gender Mosaic theory of gender differentiation.

In my normal expression I tend to blend with mild male-like dress and mild female-like dress - hints of each but nothing purely one way or the other. Some find it confusing but then they are operating in a more either/or mode of thinking and expectation which is fine. But I try hard to not exhibit an in your face definite identity expression as many with more differentiated identities are more prone to do. I am always expressing in the middle ground in public.

But in private it is either that or deeper into the female-like expression from head to toe. I enjoy those times immensely, but I personally feel it is inappropriate for me to engage in that publicly as it does not reflect my social identity which is a mild mixture of female and male dress in a way that is not intrusive but adaptable to the many different situations we encounter as we move through the social world. Which is also characteristic of a mildly androgynous undifferentiated identity. Thus that is a lifestyle.

[Kris Burton]

For me it's an equal balance of both qualities. It is not something I do 24/7 but rather when the opportunity arises. I find it fun and artistic as well - more hobby-like in that regard. I also find it takes up a large part of my consciousness. It is always on my mind, and seems to fulfill a deep need in my psyche. I believe I am a much more well-adjusted and happy individual since I began to actively CD. At this point I would not wish to stop. As such it has taken on lifestyle qualities as well.

[Maria 60]

I would be safe to say it started off very sexual and soon after it became just read or watch tv dressed just felt so relaxing. When my children unexpectedly went to school out of town my wife was so worried that things were going to excell at a fast rate and we were going to live with locked doors and window shades closed. But for some reason the opposite happened, while my children were living at home when opportunity hit I had to go all out because I didn't know when my next chance would come.again. Instead I wasn't fully dressing I was mostly doing my dressing when I would settle for the day and just enjoyed wearing a nightly or full slip reading of watching a movie, almost like my relax and slow down time. I still did dress full out but not having anyone home it was more of when I wanted to instead of when I had to, so it became normal and new experience to do house chores dressed and just at a different pace. To me I would call it a little of a habit because I can't fully control it and also a hobby because I do it in my spare time and do add to it. My wife more surprised then anyone thinking when the children left it was going to be a full evolvement, instead I dressed less and wasn't as frustrated trying to find time. It just seems like it goes through different phases that I guess always keeps it fresh and exciting.

[MarinaTwelve200]

Definitely a HOBBY, with a few side benefits. About twice a month for a few hours, creating and collecting "looks" and enjoying the Relaxation, Detachment, stress relief, not to mention the pleasure of feeling pretty and the erotic feelings. PERSONALLY, I feel with the 24/7 folks it's something more AKIN to transsexualism or at least an "unhealthy obsession". But, then again, it's only my uninformed opinion. L&LL.

[SaraLin]

Well Di, my (semi)joking response would be "I crossdress because the world expects me to look like a man."

In all seriousness, I dress as feminine as "house rules" allow because it helps keep the dysphoria at arm's length and still maintain a <somewhat?> normal life.
If I had to completely stop, I honestly believe I'd slowly have a meltdown.

So - it's more than a hobby and surely less than a lifestyle. It's just my way of balancing my life.

[Crissy 107]

I do not consider this a hobby but due to a DADT relationship it is not a lifestyle either. Yes of course I would like to do more but I cannot, at least not at this time.
I am always hopeful but I may be The King of Wishful Thinking

[ReallyLauren]

It started as a deep seeded hobby many years ago when I dressed occasionally but it's more of a lifestyle now. Right now, I'm dressing multiple times per week and doing my normal activities (recreation, shopping, etc) as my authentic self. I'm Lauren and I want to dress, act and live as a woman as much as I can.

[chrissy111]

Now that I'm full-time I guess it has become a life style. But as I look back I really believe it's also been a hobby that I have lived with since I met my girlfriend/wife.

[suddenly_CD]

I don't consider it either for me. It's more 'therapy' than anything. It keeps me calm and centred as I am a bit impatient and can easily see the bad in any situation. Being dressed puts a different outlook on life (no idea why but I'm not complaining). I'm lucky that I work from home, have no obligation to put my camera on for meetings and have a fully accepting wife. So, I have dressed every day this week (and I do most weeks if I need to) - looking to change into something a bit more 'party' for Friday evening's end of week booze up with the wife later :-). I'm a bit more conservatively dressed for work at the moment and this is what helps keep the stress of long work days in a difficult job, in check.

[Rhonda Jean]

I think as a group we're really good at parsing words, and that includes me. I have alternately described it as a hobby and a lifestyle/identity depending on who I was talking to and the impression I wanted to leave. For many years it was simply my identity. I couched it as a hobby when it seemed more palatable to do so. When I'd find a few hours here and there or go off for a couple of days to do my girl thing, hobby would seem an adequate throw-away description. I wasn't fooling anybody.

[CarlaWestin]

I don't know. I view it as just a very satisfying pleasurable experience. It's a special color in the usual day to day box of crayons.
Maybe it is just playing dress up. But, it's my form of entertainment and sometimes adventure.

[AllieBellema]

It's a hobby to me. It's something I've been interested in doing when I was younger and, even though I have days where I feel genderfluid, I never planned on making this part of my lifestyle. It also helps that most of my dresses are victorian so I can't blend in with todays females anyway, unless I went to some southern reanactment. Granted, it's been a fun hobby for me. It's a lot to put on but I love the results once I got everything on and see myself in the mirror!

[JulieC]

"Hobby" - a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation
"Lifestyle" - the typical way of life of an individual
"Identity" - the distinguishing character or personality of an individual

Crossdressing is an expression of my identity. Crossdressing is a need for me. The longer I don't crossdress, the more negative impact there is. So, to me CDing is me being me. It's not a hobby in any respect. To me, a hobby is something one gets interested in and later potentially loses interest in it and moves onto something else. I can't do that with crossdressing. Is it a lifestyle? How often I get to dress is a function of my lifestyle. I might make choices that support crossdressing and that might be considered a lifestyle. For the last month+, I've been able to crossdress full time at home (and have). I've been undressed more than half the time outside of the house. I guess you could say that's a lifestyle. Really though, it's a time in my life I've been waiting for for a long, long, long time. I'm now finding myself transforming inside, as the femme aspects of me are finally integrating into the whole me.

[Karren H]

I think to me it’s more of a sport! You train and practice and perform! Needs to be both an amature and professional crossdressing league!

[Cheryl T]

Certainly not a hobby.
Restoring cars, woodworking, snowmobiling, amateur sports are hobbies.
I don't know that I can call it a lifestyle as that's a shady area to me. This is and always has been a part of me. I believe it to be genetic the same as my eye color, being right or left handed, my hair color, height and so on.
It's just me, who I am, who I love to be.

[DAVIDA]

Well, for me, it's neither one.
It is and always was, me.
I have been this way for as long as I can remember.
I didn't ask to be a CD, nor would I want to be one if there had been a choice.
My entire life I thought I was an abomination.
Do I feel this way now? No.
Jean was the first person I ever told about it, because I didn't think I could marry her with ought letting her decide for herself if she was willing to go along this road or not.
To my surprise and absolute joy, it wasn't even an issue.
She is the one who helped me realize I wasn't some kind of freak.
She told me that if I wasn't the way I am, I probably wouldn't be the person she fell in love with.
I do know too, that I could stop dressing in anything feminine, but it wouldn't change who I am, a crossdresser.
I have been out and about in Atlanta several times, and she was always with me.
I have met people from this forum, even drove to Savannah dressed alone to meet up with a former member and we walked around the city.
This is all behind me and I have no need or want, to ever go out again.
I guess all this rambling is to say I am just ....ME.:)

[Teresa.Smith.VA]

I too would not call my need to CD a hobby or life style.

[lmildcd]

I don't know if I consider cross-dressing a hobby. I like wearing women's clothes from time to time since it makes me feel better. It is not a lifestyle for me. I may wear leggings and shirts that could pass for regular sweat clothes when I go to the store. Sometimes I wear pantyhose, stockings, or knee highs underneath regular clothes when I go out. I only wear dresses and skirts in my own home.

[Di]

Thank you everyone for telling your truth.
I think it helps new GGs seeing how it is different for everyone.
I think when they look for answers they read something and mistakenly think every CD is the same .
I love reading what crossdressing is to you .
We have the BEST members!
I like getting to know you.

[Misty_cder]

When I first started dressing, I have to say it was a hobby because it was a fetish for me. Now some 30 years later, it has become a lifestyle. I do not get to dress 24 / 7 like some ladies do, but my underdressing and the time I do get to dress are just a part of me.

[Stephanie47]

I dislike trying to assign a single word to a complex issue. Tomorrow I am headed to the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, WA for the annual Northwest Scale Modelers show. That's a hobby of mine; Building military plastic models. I do not consider that activity to be part of my sexual identity or genetic makeup, etc. wearing women's attire something I need to do to maintain some sort of inner balance in my life. Depending upon external stimuli my inner self reacts differently. Given the overt hostility there has existed towards men who emulate a woman, I do not know why I or any other man would voluntarily engage in cross-dressing.

It is possible to have a hobby within this activity. I do collect/amass as many colors as possible of my favorite Vanity Fair panties. I have no intentions of wearing them unless I acquire more than one of a color. I see that as no different than collecting postage stamps.

[Andrea Renea]

Given the two options I`d say is a hobby. Just something fun that I do.

I go out multiple times a week. Grocery shopping, shopping at Burlington, TJ Maxx, gas station etc...

I don`t dress all day. Maybe until noon then I`m back in male mode in the afternoon.

I`ve aiways been treated well and with repect.

[OrdinaryAverageGuy]

I can't really consider my CDing a hobby (although I refer to it as such from time to time) or a lifestyle (not really sure what that even means). After reading all these positions on the subject, I'm thinking it's just more my signature look. Of course there's my public signature look which involves cute socks and soft comfy t-shirts, and there's my home signature look which is more likely to include skirts and spaghetti straps.

[GretchenM]

Wow, Di. You sure hit the bullseye with that starter post. I, like you, love all the responses - absolutely fascinating. The diversity is incredible! What an amazing group of people.

Thanks, again.

[Teri Ray]

Given the binary choice of hobby or lifestyle I would choose hobby. Having said that its a hobby that I cannot deny.

[Michelle1955]

Never a hobby, not a crossdressers it a lot more than a crossdresser.
Start back when I was 4 or 5, but truthfully I really think before that.
Puberty was terrible, brain said I was in the wrong body.

I learn to manage the feelings over the years for the most part.

[CarlaWestin]

I think to me it?s more of a sport! You train and practice and perform! Needs to be both an amature and professional crossdressing league!

Oh, you just want to be in the Hall of Fame.

[Andrea_cd]

I would like it to be my normal way of life but it isnt due to factors that must be considered , when im dressed im relaxed im happy and focused , my knows but does not support at all so must be done when she isnt home , mabey one day we can come to a arrangement but till then i am a part time girl.

[Visitor]

It was spending time on this website on the Gender Non-Binary forum that allowed me to begin accepting my desire to wear a brassiere. I've intermittently worn women's undergarments, sometimes belonging to the women in my life; sometimes garments I bought that were always purged at some later time. I didn't understand my desire to crossdress until I did but even understanding how it came into being didn't extinguish the desire to do so. I think I've always been a rather feminine man who has been more comfortable with women than men. I always think of gender as a continuum and our place of the continuum is the product of heredity and related to how our endocrine system functions. As I've gotten older the balance between testosterone and estrogen has shifted and I find myself much more feminine than in the past. Now my body tells me wearing a brassiere is a reasonable thing to do. I don't have to wear one, but wearing one gives me a great deal of pleasure... not in an orgasmic sense but in sense of fulfillment. The band around my chest feels like a hug and the soft cups life a caress. I like both the look and the feel.

With a full beard that has been on my face for longer than many here have been alive, I'm never going to pretend I will pass as a woman. But I will enjoy walking through a store feeling the fullness of my breasts shaped and held by a beautiful brassiere. This is a very private pleasure for me. I'm not interested in flaunting things but I do enjoy talking about the journey with men who understand. Sharing a few photos can be fun as well, though I don't do that here. You'd be amazed how many of us there are!

Thanks for sharing everyone. I read through this thread and feel great respect for everyone's journey.

[Phoebe Reece]

For me, crossdressing is a hobby. I say that mainly because I only do it when I choose to do it. I could choose to do it a lot more often than I do now if I wanted to. I only dress femme if I am going out to meet up with friends, go to an event or meeting, or run some errand that I think will be more fun if I present as a woman. I don't dress just to sit at home. I don't desire to do it all the time. I have many times gone for as long as 4 consecutive days dressed for some trans conferences. By the end of the last day I am pretty much done with dressing for at least a few weeks.

[Cacique82]

Definitely a hobby for me. I’ll wear panties about half the week but a nightgown every night. I’ll also usually have something on when having a bedroom moment with my wife. I’ve gone out in women’s jeans before too-a great feeling. But this is it and it suits me perfectly.

[DanielleDubois]

I don't know. I view it as just a very satisfying pleasurable experience.
Maybe it is just playing dress up.

That describes me exactly so I guess for me it is a hobby. My Danielle time doesn?t overlap into my male life where I enjoyably live for 99% of the time. I think people are reluctant to call it a hobby because of how it is perceived by the public. But is it really any different from Civil War re-enactors or people who are into renaissance or medieval clubs?

And just when does a hobby become a lifestyle? My son-in - law is an avid surfer which most people would consider as a hobby but he plans his life, work, and holidays around surfing so I don?t think you can reasonably just call it a hobby.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Di :hugs:, For me it's a Hobby where I get to have the Best of both Worlds, >Orchid**O:daydreaming:O**

[LydiaL]

For me hobby does not seem strong enough. I will call it my passion.

[Angela Marie]

For many years I would say I considered it a hobby. But over the past several years I realized that I was not being honest with myself and I accepted the fact that I am transgender. Family, age, and societal issues make transition highly unlikely. So I guess in my case the closest I would come to these definitions would be lifestyle.

[Richelle423]

For me it?s a lifestyle. I have a male body while my whole life I?ve felt I should have been born with a female body. Wearing women?s clothes make me feel who I really am and who I feel inside.

[Jessica G.]

For me this is by no means a hobby. Working on my cars, collecting militaria, playing the bass and drums would be my hobbies.
I don't think about those 24/7.
Jessica is my identity, someone that I enjoy presenting as. There is a part of me inside that wishes I could have been born a woman, and even though I am not, this is the best way I can express who I wish I was. I am not saying I hate my current life and who I am by any means.
In the beginning it felt like there was an arousal to dressing. This stopped after a few months and then it finally set in like it was just normal. I get to dress whenever I get the time 7 days a week. Its just clockwork routine and I love it.
My mom will call it a hobby and I usually let her know I don't consider it that and that for me it is a lifestyle/Identity. But then again, it's not like I am going to tell my mom I wish I was born a woman.

[Princess Chantal]

I may socialize and walk amongst the lifestylers, however crossdressing is an activity that I do and not who I am.

[jacques]

hello Di,
I have come to think of my dressing as a hobby. It is not something that is essential like being a parent or working or a living. It is probably an obsessive hobby but I am definitely an amateur!
luv J

[Stacy Darling]

**** ME ! this aint a game 'were qQQQQ

[Krea]

Non-binary is just how i identify. So i guess you could call it my lifestyle.
Not female, but not typically male either. Just a person.

[Lacey New]

That?s a difficult question to answer. In many ways, my crossdressing has been an addiction. I feel a need and a desire to get dressed up from time to time. But I have also managed to control it and despit a desire to crossdress, I could wait until the time was right. Sometimes, the intervslr between dressing were quite long. So, perhaps, it became relegated to the status of being a hobby? I don?t really know.

[Jane G]

It's just part of life. Not a lifestyle though. I dress most days to some extent. but my lifestyle is that of a retired person, who loves his partner and the mountains. Dressing is just a part of the bigger picture. Does that make it a hobby. No, you can give up hobbies. Dressing as a girl is just part of who I am.

[Sherry Ann Evans]

Neither. I don't feel that hobby or lifestyle accurately describes crossdressing for me.

But if I had to pick, it would be lifestyle. I only dress fully once every month or two, because of that pesky real world, but I wear panties daily. I haven't worn men's undies in almost two years. As much as I enjoy dressing and going out, I wouldn't do it just as a "hobby" -- that would imply it's something I choose do, simply for fun. It is fun :) but that's because I make the best of it, as it's something I feel that I * need * to do.

[Diane P]

Easiest question in the world for me to answer: Lifestyle. I've only been dressing for the last 18 months but wish I had started years ago. It just feels so right, normal and natural to me to be dressing as a woman. I'm underdressed in panties all the time. Sleep at night in panties and nightgown, sometimes add a bra. Love it and as I said earlier, wish I had started years ago, like 40 or 45 at least.

[JoyceAnn]

It's a hobby for me right now, because of my situation. I think I would crossdress more often if I were free to do so, but not full-time.

[AngelaGA]

It is a hobby for me. When I dress up, i dress up all the way..makeup and all. I dress up about once a month, not by choice but because i work so much. However there are times i wish i could dress up at work. But one can dream.

[lynn.crossdresser]

That is a very good question and I can say that over the 40 odd years that I?ve worn various female clothes I have definitely evolved from first using only female lingerie for sexual pleasure to now fully femming up to do what I now consider my hobby which is my housework/chores. I hate to stereotype and appear sexist because I don?t see housework as the females duty but if I can fem up and do it then it feeds and heightens my submissive needs/wants.

[Desiree2bababe]

I suppose now, for me, it's a form of sexual perversion or kink. At a young age it was the thrill of the clothing upon my skin, which led to the desire to pass and be seen. Sexual freedom at that time and my ability to pass led to experiences with men which I truly enjoyed, more so sexually than experiences with women even though I considered myself attracted to females. I suppose it let me be the submissive and thusly relaxed any pressure to perform as a male, which fit with my desire to be a people pleaser. I suppose if we'd had the openness to sexual identity as we have today, I'd probably been a gay male or perhaps even a transsexual.

[AmyJordan]

Definitely lifestyle as chosen by my wife, however not sure if something happened whether I would be able to revert back fully to male or if it would be difficult to shake off the feminine mannerisms I have been taught, but then again finding a lady who would continue this lifestyle I would imagine would be even more difficult, realistically how many women would be so inclined.

Amy x

[Giselle(Oshawa)]

for myself crossdressing is a compulsion, that leads to my inner most feelings that i am a woman.

[GeminaRenee]

At first, I perceived my desire to wear women's clothes as a fetish. I felt I was really just looking for an excuse to wear heels, nylons, and lipstick. Then, my first wife encouraged me to dress fully, and I loved it. But it was very compartmentalized from the rest of my life. I suppose at that point, I thought of it more as a hobby.

These days - I don't know if "lifestyle" is the right word, as to me that implies something that was a choice. But I do know that crossdressing is very much a part of who I am. I am slowly decompartmentalizing the halves of my life. I wear elements of women's clothing on a regular basis without being fully en femme. I wear subtle makeup to work now. And I am continuing to move in the direction of blending elements of clothing from both genders. And I have never felt more comfortable than I do now, with the direction my life is moving in that regard.

I do not feel any innate dissatisfaction with my male-ness. My dissatisfaction lies not fully expressing the femme part of myself. I suppose that I'm non-binary, if anything. But I do know that I truly feel free when expressing the femme part of myself without shame.

Great question, maybe ask me again in 10 years and see how the answer has changed. LOL

[Snide_lobster]

It's complicated. Hobby is a sanitized shortcut that isn't untrue. There is certainly a fetishistic element I also cannot ignore (as much as I'd probably like to). Yet either of those explanations feel incomplete in isolation. It's not purely for fun, but it's not fully for pleasure either. Best word overall would be the experience is continually sensual, some parts arousing, some parts fulfilling, some parts entertaining (like honing a craft). It doesn't neatly fit into any one category.

The problem I've been having recently though, is how to deal with it as a compulsion (and I wouldn't mind some help, other advice and might even start a thread for this). If I don't cross-dress for a while, the act of starting up doesn't initially feel like a compulsion, it's something I actively want to do, and chose to do with full agency. But once I get the ball rolling, things become a lot more obsessive. Call it the pink fog or whatever you want, but then I'll go out, spend a lot of money on items, and spend more time dressed for a short period than I really have good reason too, it almost feels consuming. I wish this could be something I pick up, spend an afternoon doing, and go back to normal, or buy an item or two, then fall back on self-discipline, but history doesn't share that pattern. Anyone feel the same way, any tips, tricks on keeping it in a comfortable level avoiding both abstinence and overindulgence?

[Geena75]

For me, I would have to say "Hobby -- with benefits(?)" Even when I'm into it full swing over the winter, it is still for just a few hours, once every week or two. I actually enjoy the process of getting made up, if just for that moment I look in the mirror and see someone else looking back. Compared to my Civil War hobby, when I'm all in for a couple days at a time, and it is definitely a hobby.

[April Rose]

I have come to look at it as a calling, similar to a religious calling. Hobby or lifestyle both imply a choice. Too many good things have come to me through cross dressing for me to pathologize myself by calling it a compulsion. It is far too amorphous and ever changing to be a fetish. But like a religious calling, as we all know here, you deny it at your own, very personal peril. And when you are in the right alignment with it, it is joyous and empowering.

[Melinda Jean]

A hobby? No... A Lifestyle? No again. I would say for me it is a part of who I am and as such it is woven into the fabric of my life. I have to say that dressing is part of my day-to-day, but there other things that may take precedence on occasion. It really, really, depends on the day!

[Vintage4sarah]

If you equate our love of dressing to the criteria of what is a hobby, I would say that we can view crossdressing as a hobby. We do spend time and treasures on it from buying items to make us femme, to sharing it with others, and learning and research more aboout it all. I have many hobbies out side of dressing such as historical reenacting, to outdoor sports, to more sedate interest like reading. Many these I have shared with my family and other. My dear wife views my dressing as a hobby and refers to that a lot.

Beyond what I just said, in actuality it is also a lifestyle that I can immerse myself in when I get the chance to be Sarah for extended periods of time. Deep down, I know that there is a very female person inside of me that real life has tucked away. If I was younger and had the freeedom to explore this side more I imagine that I could live my life as a woman.

[Leah87]

Personally speaking, it?s a hobby. It falls into the same category as playing golf, wall climbing and archery which I enjoy when time allows. When the stars align and the time, opportunity and being home alone falls in my favour, I?ll dress. As with other hobbies, in between opportunities, I?ll look for ways to improve. At the moment I?m dabbling with makeup. If I get a 20 ? 30 minute opportunity, I?ll try and practice my technique or watch a tutorial.

It's my lifestyle that supports my hobbies with my wife and I going to the gym at least twice, maybe three, times a week, eating well and walking / hiking one day over the weekend, weather allowing. It?s a lifestyle that's pretty much ingrained into our working lives that keeps my body in the right shape for my active hobbies and for dressing. Add to this a routine of applying hand and face moisturiser on a daily basis which helps to keep my skin in line.

As with all my hobbies, I look forward to the opportunity when I can pursue them and feel gutted when the time comes to pack things away, and CD is no exception. I?d love to spend more time pursuing them, but it is what it is. I cherish every moment that arises where I can pursue them, CD, especially.

[Deborah2B]

Looking back over time I have realized, when I was single and able to do it every day, I did not do it every day. I did not want that. I have no desire to do it all day every day. I am still in that mindset. I enjoy being a guy and especially being her guy for my wife. I also enjoy becoming a gal for a little while.

Before and after getting married I kept it hidden from my wife. I should have told her from the start, but I did not have the courage to do that. I did dress infrequently, and it was dependent on when she was gone from the house for extended times like days that she worked, and I did not.

I do not think of it as a hobby or a lifestyle. I do love doing it. I could live without doing my hobbies, but not doing or even thinking about crossdressing is not an option. It is a part of my life that is not going to go away even though I have tried several times in the past.

My wife now knows about my crossdressing. She accepts it as much as she can. I know she would prefer that I did not do it. She knows that it is a part of me. She has told me that if I was not the wonderful caring person that I am she probably would not have fallen in love with me. She would rather accept this unusual part of me rather than have me be something else. I am very happy with the acceptance that she has. We have agreed that my crossdressing is done privately at home.

I am lucky that she knows about this part of me, and she wants to be involved with it. We went shopping at Kohls together last year. She wanted to learn what Deborah likes as far as clothing styles. We ended up buying several items because they were such a bargain. It ended up being cheaper than buying used stuff at a thrift store.

I remember one time last year that my wife suggested I should have a Deborah Day. She could tell my job was bothering me some. She knows me better than I know myself. I had that day and felt much better afterward. She has been my rock for decades, and a shoulder that I can lean on at any time. Because of her I no longer feel like a freak due to my desire to crossdress.

Crossdressing is not a hobby or lifestyle to me. It is simply a part of who I am and one of many things I like to do. It is different for everyone. It is one more thing that makes everyone unique whether they crossdress or not.

[Jade P]

I would say more than a hobby because I can stop a hobby. I could not ever stop crossdressing, I accept and love my feminine side. I am not out to many people and do not dress in public so not a lifestyle. My wife dislikes that I crossdress. I crossdress in private at home and underdress under male clothing.