Using the word "hobby" to describe your crossdressing

[DanaR]

I've never been able to understand the use of the word "hobby" in crossdressing. This has never been a hobby to me.

[danielle_from_cal]

I certainly do not consider it to be a hobby. However, when people ask me what I do in my spare time the first thing that comes to mind is "crossdressing". I guess if the thing you do that you enjoy that is not working is a "hobby", it might be considered that. I would rather have it referred to as a hobby than a perversion.

[Niya W]

I'd say its more of a life style than a hobby.

[TGMarla]

Well...."hobby" beats "addiction" or "obsession".

[DanaR]

I would rather have it referred to as a hobby than a perversion.

Danielle,

I wouldn't consider it a perversion either.<lol>

[sissystephanie]

It is not a Hobby with me. My hobbies are reading, making new friends, and traveling. Not necessarily in that order.

I crossdress because I like to, for the fit, feel and look.:) I admit I am more comfortable in feminine clothing then I am in male clothing. But after CD'ing for over 65 years why not?

Sissy/Stephanie

Girl on the outside, but man underneath!

[Mandy_UK]

A collection of heels - now thats a hobby :daydreaming:

[MarinaTwelve200]

Well, it IS sort of a hobby. I like to see how many different ways I can make myself look and make a photographic record.---And its FUN and relaxing

[Rachel Morley]

I, like you, don't think it's hobby. However, this could be a good way of describing it over to someone who doesn't really understand, or you could say it’s kind of like having a "gender vacation".

For me I'd have to say it's a bit more serious than a hobby or a vacation. A hobby is what I used to tell myself it was before I accepted what it really actually is for me. It effects me emotionally too much to be a hobby, I'd have to say that it's an integral part of who I am. I know I can't be happy without incorporating it into my everyday life ... that's not a hobby in my world.

[Chryl]

just an expression

cheryl

[DonnaWanna]

I don't know about it being a hobby but I do have quite a collection,,

[crusadergirl]

I see it as more of an art.

[vikki2020]

The word hobby works as an easy explanation, but we know it's much more than that!:)

[KatrinaAshley]

I use the term without much hesitation. All depends on how you define it. This is something I love doing and isn't that what a hobby is? Beats using choice other words used to describe what we do.

[LilSissyStevie]

Hobby, fetish, compulsion, or "it's just who I am." What's the difference?

In my case, the devil makes me do it.:devil:

[Billijo49504]

I too like the term Life styld, compared to Hobby..BJ

[Ibuki_Warpetal]

hob·by
–noun, plural -bies. 1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation

Maybe you don't define what you are doing as a hobby, but it certainly fits the bill, unless you crossdress for money.

[ReginaS]

Crossdressing is part of me. Collecting shoes is a hobby.

[Edwina]

The word hobby works as an easy explanation, but we know it's much more than that!:)

I agree, it is a word anyone can understand.

Edwina

Hey! who disabled my smilies??????????

[Nadia-Maria]

I use the term without much hesitation. All depends on how you define it. This is something I love doing and isn't that what a hobby is? Beats using choice other words used to describe what we do.

Definately agreed.

It is very much as a hobby for me. Sometimes it conflicts with another hobby : for example it may happen I have to choose either a CD session or a starry night session (woman breasts, makeup and wig are not well adapted for observing using the telescope in the dark).

But it is a little more than a hobby, because it may happen I CD while enjoying another hobby such as hiking or skiing in the mountains. At that moment it is somewhat more of a way of life.

Hugs

Nadia

[Fiona K]

I've never been able to understand the use of the word "hobby" in crossdressing. This has never been a hobby to me.

Me neither, the reason for me is that hobbies can come and go- I build model ships or model planes as a hobby but months or even years can go by between builds.

It's not habit either as I've been building plastic planes almost as long as I've been dressing.

I can't be someone else, which is how it feels if I don't dress for any length of time. Being Trans is too much of who I am.

[Lucy Bright]

Me neither, the reason for me is that hobbies can come and go- I build model ships or model planes as a hobby but months or even years can go by between builds.

It's not habit either as I've been building plastic planes almost as long as I've been dressing.

I can't be someone else, which is how it feels if I don't dress for any length of time. Being Trans is too much of who I am.

Agreed.

Kisses,

Lucy

[KayR]

Well, I do regard my CDing as a hobby.
There are many people with lots of different hobbies who are just as passionate about their hobby as me - and possibly you. I have a friend who is a train buff. He will get out of bed at stupid-o'clock to drive 90 miles (on UK roads!!) just to watch a railway engine chug by - not a famous or charismatic one - just an engine. He then arrives back full of the joys of Spring, with photographs and everything.
I don't see the difference. Its a reflection of his makeup (sic).

[TxKimberly]

Well...."hobby" beats "addiction" or "obsession".

I agree with Marla. It's not a hobby but that is a convenient way to describe it.

[Annemarie]

It's an obsession or a state of being more than a hobby.However getting all the details right (make-up, clothes, wig, accessories etc) have all the characteristics of a hobby and it is a great joy and pride when a particular look you have in mind becomes a reality, however brief. I don't collect stamps, but I do collect shoes and dresses !

[Deborah Jane]

It,s more than a hobby!!
I can do some of my hobbies while i,m "dressed" [artwork, reading, etc] and i,d like to be able to do the others too, but doing them in a pretty skirt and top, etc would end up with me ruining my girly things.

[Eva Marie]

I conditionally agree with everything previously stated, and don't disagree with anyone's remarks. As we become an evermore diverse sub-society, more diversity in our perspectives is inevitable. We're beginning to see posts on this site that would have been censored when I first joined here.

Personally, it depends on my mood; sometimes crossdressing is, and is treated as, a hobby. In that respect, it's also an artform, to be executed at the highest attainable level. I enjoy the variety of fabrics and clothing designs, analogous to the varieties of music we can play and hear, colors and shapes we can see and create, and theoretical philosophies we can examine.

Perhaps life is a hobby, or should be.

[Mitch23]

As others have said its a convenient label. the danger of describing it in the context of a recreational pursuit is that foks (my wife included) think you can just put it down and move on to something else

mitch

[CD Susan]

I do not consider it to be a hobby either even though it probably is. I looked up the word in the dictionary and this is what it says. Hobby...any favorite pursuit followed persistently. Well my cding is definately a pursuit that I do follow persistently so it is a hobby according to that definition. However I think of it as a lifestyle more than anything else. I think that one choses thier hobbies and I certainly did not chose to be a cd. It is just the way that I am and there is no choice one way or the other.

[DanaR]

As others have said its a convenient label. the danger of describing it in the context of a recreational pursuit is that foks (my wife included) think you can just put it down and move on to something else

mitch

This is the problem that I have with calling it a hobby. I've had people ask me if I was full time, when I answered no, they said that it's just a hobby then. I just had my nails done and didn't feel like a fight.<just kidding>

[KayR]

It just sounds like semantics to me.
Take most of the statements made about TV/CDing, then substitute for another topic - like model-making, painting, sculpture - even stamp collecting. I'm certain that any of these hobbyists would declare themselves passionate and dedicated in the same way. I'll bet we all know people for whom their hobby is a way of life, an ingrained aspect of their psyche etc., etc.
I knew a wonderful, charming family who lived at Fox Lake Illinois. The whole family of 4 were totally and utterly besotted with... ferrets. I kid you not. They had dozens of the little cuties. They literally lived and breathed them (have you smelled a ferret?). I would stake my interest in CDing on their interest in ferrets to be at least equal - possibly more so.

[Mary Jane]

I think of my dressing as a hobby. I enjoy dressing and taking pictures. I have in the past had opportunites to dress several days in a row and fiound myself tiring of the dressing. Sort of like becoming too full at a meal. I enjoy doing man things and consider my male side as my lifestyle. We are all different and I certainly can see things from others points of view also.

[trannie T]

I have two other hobbies, one is eating, thr other is breathing.

[Ibuki_Warpetal]

As others have said its a convenient label. the danger of describing it in the context of a recreational pursuit is that foks (my wife included) think you can just put it down and move on to something else

mitch

This is a good point. Even though I feel "hobby" can describe a lot of the things we chronically choose to do, I feel CDing is a lifestyle choice, but it's not any different than some average Joe's lifestyle choice to be average.

The thing is, though, you can put it down at any time, you just don't want to. :P
I think it's important to let people know you aren't forced into doing it, but you are in fact choosing.

[Angie G]

well for me it's more of a semi lifestyle and I love it :hugs:
Angie

[Brynna M]

In the sense that I enjoy dressing and I do it persistently it is a hobby. the problem in calling it a hobby is that I can't leave it behind. Even when I thought crossdressing was wrong and wanted to stop I couldn't. That is more than a hobby. In that sense its something more inate like breathing or eating.

[darla_g]

i use the term hobby. i think its the appropriate term for me.

[docrobbysherry]

I think of my dressing as a hobby. I enjoy dressing and taking pictures. I have in the past had opportunites to dress several days in a row and fiound myself tiring of the dressing. Sort of like becoming too full at a meal. I enjoy doing man things and consider my male side as my livestyle. We are all different and I certainly can see things from others points of view also.

I almost always dress to the 9's, if I dress at all. A couple of hours is enough for me to take my pics and remove my rocks. I sometimes keep on my foundation gear, nylons and forms for the evening afterwards. Otherwise, I rarely put on anything.

However, why is it when I'm NOT dressing, I'm thinking about it so much? I don't remember doing that with other hobbies. Or even with other fetishes or porn?

What makes CDing so compulsive? Even when you're NOT interested in dressing at the moment?

[KayR]

Just to continue keeping this pot on the boil, the word "fan" is an abbreviation of "fanatic"..... :D

[amber 07]

How about an avocation, as opposed to a vocation? I just got home from the local Goodwill store and I'm over the moon. I found a beautiful sweater-dress, brand new for $4.99 and a beautiful, sheer, burgundy gown with sequins with tags for $9.99, and a pair of brand new heels in size 12 for $2.99. I think I'll revise my description to an "all consuming obsession", LOL. Hugs, Amber

[Jazzmine]

Being a CD is part of my lifestyle - it's very much a participation event!

But then so is my photography, sports, family, business etc.
I spend all hours awake thinking about my lifestyle - as in 'everything I do or want to do next'.

CD is a special interest that gives very immediate pleasure emotionally and so is very addictive.

My sports often 'hurt' while I am participating but I still turn up and still try to win. On good days I count my blessings I have a sporty lifestyle. To me they are addictive as well.

The thing is, with CD I never seem to have a bad day - all time dressed is fun, creative, arousing, satisfying. It gets you on so many levels.

Hugs Jazzmine