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No one here will be surprised when I mention my need for information to make ANY life choices, small or large, and vacation is not an exception. I really don't understand my head here. Researching the options = fun and entertainment to my brain, but actual specific planning sends me into a tailspin of resentment for my time and energy being sucked into the process. So I'm always reading new things about everything I'm into, including cruising, and I like to read those 'things I wish I knew" and 'get the most of f your cruise' type articles, and I did learn a few new things, like despite neither of us like fish Nikki and I are going to try a bit of sushi for the first time ever, we never knew that the Tamarind (one of those you pay extra to eat at places) has no extra charge at lunch, only at dinner. So we agreed to try it, if only to put a stop to all the 'how can you know you don't like it, you never treid it! Best place to try suspicous new things is on a cruise, where they will bend over backwards to find you something you like if you don't like the new thing. It doesn't always work out great, on the Royal Princess i tried the cheese mousse. It sounded okay on the menu...but on the plate in front of my I nearly lost my nerve. It smelled like rotten feet, and it visually looked like baby poop. Other people all around were me eating this thing though, so okay...but no, it tasted like my nose tells me baby poop would too. I can't believe I ate that. *Shudders* So this article is all about getting the most for your money, and has 10 tips, and 9 of them I already knew and vetted, but the one I hadn't tried said that booking through your cruise will cost you up to twice as much, and you get less. The author then mentioned three third party tour services that guarantee on time return to your ship (because that is one of the big things, a ship will NOT leave you if you are booked on a tour THEY sold you, but if you are on your own they will leave you on time because every minute over costs them thousands in fees at a port). So I googled the websites, and started looking around, and that author must live in Colorado and have taken a break when they wrote this one point on the list to smoke somethine, because not only was there not more variety (Really, shoudln't there be more OPTIONS at least if these company specialize only in tours where a crusie just vets enough to keep its' passengers happy?) they ALL cost more. Not one would have saved us any money, and it had LESS options, the rain forest we are going to tour through the ship cruise in Puerto Rico (El Yunque) didn't appear in anything at all. If I'm being kind I'm going to assume the author has possibly out of date information, and the cost trends have shifted, entirely possible if a service gets big enough with enough loyal customers they stop undercutting the competition to get started after all and start looking to increase profit. At worst that author was going to sell us all out. Follow up on that information, this world really is out to get us all.

Although professionals and others, after reviewing my history and story, have assured me that I am transgender that's been a hard pill to swallow at times. I always come way wondering if I might have consciously or unconsciously told them only what I wanted them to know or in a way that manipulates their judgement. And even if I accept that I've been as transparent as I can be I have then questioned their authority to make the determination. This has all been so exhausting, like running the wheel in a hamster cage. But I think I'm coming to an acceptance that I am what I am, and I am transgender. I hope this blog post will provide an example that might help others struggling with this question. So here's what I did: a couple of months ago I started compiling a history of memories and trans feelings/experiences that I grouped into categories by age and school (for when I was younger). Not all of my memories came to me at once so I added as I thought of more of them. It helped to write them down because it's so hard to keep all those details in mind. That process helped a lot but it wasn't complete. A few days ago I added a one or two sentence summary of that time period that kind of distills what came up for me during that time period. Wow. It is what it is and at this point I think it's undeniable. Here's the whole thing as of today: Emma’s TG History <6 years: preschool and kindergarten Where I discovered my shame about wanting to be girly and do girly things, and the powerful need to keep it strictly hidden from others. But as an only child where did that shame come from? I assume I learned it from my mother, before I have memories, when I rebelled against her making me be a boy. Wore out my baby blanket’s satin edging; I loved the feel of it.Twirling like a ballerina at another child’s birthday party; ashamed and stopped before “being caught.”Wanted to learn to curtsey with the girls in preschoolPlaying with the girls in the kindergarten kitchenettes; afraid of the boys play and what they would thinkPlaying with neighbor friend (who much later came out as gay): making up stories with little characters6-12 years: grade school Like a sponge I soaked up knowledge about girls and women, contemplated what it would be like, and fostered fantasies. I spent hours surreptitiously investigating in magazines, newspapers, television, and catalogs. Wanted to be a Blue Bird in 1st gradeWished I could be a mermaidWanted stirrup pants like the girls: how would they feel to wear?Rolled up in my Nana’s satin comforter; shamed by her to stop. Playground: with the girls playing hopscotch, gymnastics on barsUnexpressed wishing mother would buy leotard and tights for meBedtime fantasies of being dressed as a girl, transported away into space. Or, dressed in a harem girl’s costume, living in an I Dream of Jeanie bottle, with Jeanie.Fixated on catalog with sleeping bra, wanting one, trying to figure out how to order and receive it secretly.TV: That Girl, Girl from UNCLE, Flying Nun, The Avengers, I Dream of Jeanie, BewitchedFavorite movies: Patty Duke, The Sound of Music, Three Lives of ThomasinaWanted to be able to cry and wear a ring like a girl at school13-18 years: junior and high school Covert actions taken to experience clothing, the good feelings that emerged were undeniable. "Subtly" trying to encourage mother to buy a tutu for meHand-sewing camisole and romper out of rags while parents at AA meetingsTrying on girdles from Goodwill bagCutting panties from discarded pantyhose to wear under clothing or to bedBought black long-sleeved leotard at dance clothing store; returned a year later to buy black tights. I had to wait or risk their remembering me.Wearing mother’s swimming suit when parents were out for the eveningLake Berryessa: bought pantyhose to wear and hang out in, on weekend alone. It felt marvelous but lonely.Wanted to crossdress with girlfriend; she was okay with it but I was too cautiousStole girl's skirt, top, and slip from restaurant restroom Continually looking for discarded/lost girl’s clothing Found yellow girly panties on lawnFound multicolored panties in HS parking lot18-24 years: college More clothing and my first-time experience going out dressed. But otherwise a low point in my TG world as I tried to be what I was supposed to be. Stole blue leotard from clothes wash room in dormHalloween: dressed as coed (skirt, girls sweater) for party, loving it and yet feeling so alone, afraid to show that I loved it too much and that I’d be found out.Twenties More clothing and dressing. Found navy blue dance panties in parking lotBought leotard and tights at dance storeBought leotard at flea marketHalloween (1981): on the Castro as a nurse. What a great time I had, just being me if only for a few hours.Halloween (1982): on the Castro as a bride. Not quite as much fun but a good time nonetheless.Wearing leotard/panties during sexThirties Explorations, confronting fears by buying clothing. Wearing panties and nightgown during sexVisited TV/TS bar in Munich: a long walk from my hotel but I left shortly after arrival; too scared.Foxy Lady Boutique – SF: dress and lingerieLingerie boutique - Mountain View: corset and stockingsForties Exploring what it means, terrified to come out and be accepted. Once again, full withdrawal. Accumulating very small wardrobeKOA Santa Cruz: much research, writing, desperate for acceptance and understanding. Drove to LA to crossdressing clothing store; bought a dress, lingerie.Delivered overly comprehensive report to my wife that I hoped she would see it all as no big deal. Just the opposite, she was devastated.Serious suicide considerationsCarla's Boutique: bought dress, bra, otherFifties Discovering the new transgender vocabulary, that being trans is inborn, not a choice. Wondering how far on the spectrum I will need to travel. Finally: full disclosure with therapist, wife, and gender therapist. Bringing leotard and tights on business tripsIt all emerges again: much more explorationConfrontations with my wifeSerious suicide attempts, much considerationClothing bought on Amazon, REI, Carla’s, dance store…Gender therapist’s confirmationAttended TG/TS group meetings at Carla's and with gender therapistParticipation in on-line support groups TGGuide and CrossdreamLifeWearing dresses and skirts in private at home; nightgown to bedSixties With disclosures, my shame is about gone. Still hard to accept this reality at times. What will I do if my marriage collapses and I’m on my own? Realization that I'd always wanted to be small and treasured: does that mean female, or perhaps loved by my mother? I think it's the former but it's probably both.Wearing dresses and skirts in private at home; nightgown to bedComing out to family and friends: all going relatively wellIncreasingly accepting that I do not see a need to socially or surgically transitionAttended TDoV, TDoR in San Francisco; surprised I don’t feel much of a bond with these people.Dara Hoffman-Fox’s book and workbook: worked through the exercises, provided her with edits for her next edition.