Teresa,
Thanks -- I feel more certain than I sound. To have discovered this late in life and to find virtually zero in the literature about similar people feeds the doubts that I think probably go with the territory. Counselors have not told me what to do but have reinforced my certainty, though it was the gender therapist who pointed out the one step at a time idea, knowing that some people find their needs addressed short of a full transition. Having suppressed this without much exploration other than online and in my head, I just can't say for certain where it stops, though I have a deep feeling that I am going to transition fully, without knowing why I feel that way. So we'll see. The point I was trying to make about talking to my wife (among others in my disjointed posts) is that the one thing I can't promise her is that I'll stop at point A, B, or C. On the one hand, I don't want to rush anything; on the other hand, I've waited a long time to be the person i was meant to be. That's the balancing act. Part of the "one-step-at-a-time" theory is just realizing how much is involved in a real transition, and how long it's likely to take. I don't want to be overwhelmed or smothered by thinking of everything I have to do, because I can't do it all at once.
Does this make sense?
e.a.
