Quote Originally Posted by LeslieSD View Post
And things are getting really boring (and a little sad). After the initial rush got worn off (happened long ago), I felt like that Leslie (when I am dressed) is just another ghost floating through the city. There is no interaction with anyone, and there is no purpose. It is just another (bigger) closet, which I occationally venture into, and see many shadows floating around. Though I still enjoy doing it, Leslie longs to be a real person. But this is no life.
So interesting Leslie. Your paragraph above describes what I went through for well over 10 years. In the early days, there was no internet so when I'd go to support group meetings, it wasn't like I was giving out my address or home phone number in order to cultivate friendships. I found my outings to be plenty of fun but way too solitary. Cell phones and the internet changed all that and I have friends all over the nation who I absolutely cherish.

That said, it is interesting that you chose someone in your "vanilla" circle to come out to. That is a bold move but one I'm sure you made carefully. I happen to keep pretty sharp separation between my girl and guy circles of interaction. Think of a Venn Diagram, the only area of commonality is my wife and she is like yours, DADT (or Y,W as I described it elsewhere http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/...-)&highlight=). I don't agree with the previous post which suggested you need to drag your wife into this if she isn't comfortable in doing so. Mine isn't and at this point I have 1000% accepted that and would actually be weirded out if she said one day she wanted to join me on an outing. She knows who my dear friends are. She knows how close my emotional attachment to them is, including Diana who is a natal female. These are dear friends just the same as I have cherished friendships on the guy side as well. My fondness for ALL of my friends is the same no matter what even if there is clear separation between the two camps.

So yes, friends are really important in our world and help us to be the best (and happiest) we can be.