Zooey,
We have had crossed words before but I totally agree with your last reply, I still can't say for certain how close I am to TS all I know at the moment the balance is on the male side.
The whole TG/CDing /TS is a compromised life style to most of us, you decided to make the trade and follow your inner feelings and you list the losses it incurred.
I nearly took the separation route to live more or less full time and build a life around that, what followed after that I can't say for certain.
Then I realised I had so much I was going to turn my back on and possibly lose, I still have a mother of 86, two children and three grandchildren and a wife who obviously cares. The pain of losing all that to face no guarantees of happiness and more likely isolation especially now I'm in my mid sixties was too much .
Those who do make the decision to align mind and body are very brave people, but sadly not always happy ones but please don't think some of us don't understand . I still can't say NO TO TS 100% , in this community the decisions are hard ones to get right , I know I'm going to have live with the compromise I've chosen and try and retain the good things outside my CDing.