I don't want to bore anyone with ALL the gory details, so I'll just give you the short version. I dressed as a child. My wife is the person who encouraged me to dress as an adult, first for Halloween. We went to a restaurant Halloween party, where they were giving prizes for costumes. I looked so good the judges couldn't find me, and I was asked to parade in front of them. I was disqualified because they thought I was a professional female impersonator. I was both flattered and disappointed.
Then I tried going that route. I hung out in clubs, got to know a few drag performers, did shows for about a year. It was an educational experience, but it wasn't my thing. About a year later we got married, and thus began the binge/purge cycle, which mostly consisted of me purging every time my wife thought I wasn't being "a man" enough. Over time we grew apart, and my CD behavior wasn't as much of an issue as she sometimes makes it out to be.
I'm on my own for the first time in almost ten years. I live with a cat named Spot (not for the cat on TNG). Crossdressing's not my only thing, it's just the thing I have the most difficulty opening up about. People are pretty understanding if you're into historical recreation (Middle Ages and Ren), science fiction or model building, but finding out you like women's clothing is something else. I'm just trying to find/make my place in this world. I tried reaching out to a group I found online a couple of years ago. They sent me a membership application with a long questionaire attached. I didn't know the answers to any of their questions, so that dead-ended. I've known for as long as I've had access to the Net that there's a community out here, I've just never felt like I was a part of it. I'm hoping that changes.
Jaye
from someone with three cats (and two dogs!). They all are good company and they don't talk back! 
and ENJOY!!