Hi Em,
I saw your post and I had to comment. My husband does not post to this site, nor does he read it much for that matter..he works full time and is very busy.

I usually wind up sharing any *adventures* we have. But thankfully we have also been fortunate enough to meet other members of this forum and I would like to think we are {enough} well known in our local cd community in Toronto that anyone thinking that we are not for real can easily be proven wrong.

All that said....back when we used to update our {sad little} website every now and again people would email asking "why does it sound like every time you go out it is the most normal natural thing and is seems you dont' have bad experiences?" I figure either the person thinks we made up these tales...or just thinks every time one goes out the house crossdressed that people are glaring and staring and the world is falling apart around us...

The reality is my sweetie does get *read*...but since he has been going out since 1996 at this point it is not that big a deal any more if someone does a double take. We also have luck on our side as we live close enough to a major urban area that it is fairly easy to go out and never run into someone from your regular male life. As for angst and being scared or worried or nervous...I think most our outings are so well planned and we know the areas we are going well enough that the *fear factor* is removed mostly. And the other thing I suppose my husband has going for him is he has literally never been out dressed without me since we got married in 1999.

I do think there is a time and place for everything though. And sadly alot of people will not be able to use common sense or have such a case of pink fog that they disregard that maybe they are not dressed apporpriatly or are sending negative signals to the world at large that they are nervous and hence they have the *bad outings* where they get bad reactions at every turn and then run to their car.

I think if one plans appropriately for an outing {going to nicer places, dresses to fit in the situation {ie...mall shopping = casual low heels...fetish night = pvc and spikes!}, holds their head up and acts like they have every right to be there, has a good quality wig and decent make up skills...almost any person can go out to a large city and have a really good day.