Hi!! I'm new here.. I'm in my early 50's. i knew from an early age (5) i was in the wrong body. i grew up awkward through my teens, secretly wearing my mother clothes when i could, and can remember wanting to be more like the girls in school. but in the early 80's, that wasn't done, not where i grew up. then the military. i guess i  had to prove something to everyone else.. all the while struggling with hating the body i was in.. knowing it was always awkward with women sexually, but never socially. i had more female friends than i did male..lets move forward... i nearly died 2-1/2 yrs ago from illness, but i recovered.. i'm pursuing my dream, slowly for now.. but as things change, then so will I even more-so. I'm happy to have found this place.

Quote from: Stephanie Anne on August 20, 2018, 09:16:53 PM
Hi!! I'm new here.. I'm in my early 50's. i knew from an early age (5) i was in the wrong body. i grew up awkward through my teens, secretly wearing my mother clothes when i could, and can remember wanting to be more like the girls in school. but in the early 80's, that wasn't done, not where i grew up. then the military. i guess i  had to prove something to everyone else.. all the while struggling with hating the body i was in.. knowing it was always awkward with women sexually, but never socially. i had more female friends than i did male..lets move forward... i nearly died 2-1/2 yrs ago from illness, but i recovered.. i'm pursuing my dream, slowly for now.. but as things change, then so will I even more-so. I'm happy to have found this place.

@Stephanie Anne 
Hello Stephanie Anne   
Thank you for following my suggestion and the LINK that I gave to you on my Welcome Message to you last month back on July 23rd on another thread to come here to the Introductions Forum.... and thank you for your first postings.

Now that you have written your introduction post here you will now be seen by many members here on the forums and will able to have more give and take and sharing of thoughts with other like-minded members here.
There is a good chance too that you can make some new friends here on the forums.

Please be certain to look at the Susan's Place informational LINKS that I included at the end of my Welcome Message on that other thread.   Pay particular attention to the LINKS IN RED, there will be answers for questions that most new members will ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place,
Danielle

Hi Stephanie Anne 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's Place, I'm Jessica!  It makes me so happy that you took the tip from our darling in the North @Alaskan Danielle and introduced yourself in the Introduction forum.  It does make it easier for others to recognize that your new to the site.  This also has the effect of making new friends that may share common ground with you.
I am also glad you found us, the combined experiences of the membership here covers a lot of territory and I'm sure you'll find it has a family atmosphere where we nurture each other in times of doubt, fear, anger and share the joy of our successes, love and milestones. 

Make yourself at home, join in on a topic that interests you and learn and share!

Hugs and smiles, Jessica

Hey Anne

Welcome! Sorry to hear about your illness, it's really great you've overcome it and came here to pursue your dreams People here have different experience and face different obstacles, but we here have same goal - be ourselves, and all here support each other Enjoy your time here

Hi Stephanie Anne 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

Hugs

V M

Hi Stephanie Anne, thank you for sharing. I hope that is just the start. Welcome, my name is Moni. I am very happy you are here. I hope to see you around Susanville, as we are pretty friendly and love new folks. Don't be shy now, okay?

Welcome to the site!  It's really hard to deal with this stuff alone and it can feel so isolating having to hide it from everyone in your life.  It sounds like you've been through a lot and I'm sorry to hear about your illness but glad you recovered.  I've had a chronic illness for half my life so I can understand how beating your illness has given you the strength and motivation to explore this.