I knew that I was not male from about age five, but I was raised in a conservative, Republican, Pre-Vatican II Catholic household. Both my parents were veterans of WW II and as such, there was little room for anyone who was not M or F. I was married in 1972 and have two children, both girls. My older daughter, aged 36, hasn’t talked to me in almost four years and I have no contact information for her. My younger daughter, aged 28, is closer to me than at any time in our lives. My spouse and I have been legally separated since 2005.After a life-long struggle with my gender conflict, I started counseling in 2003, began hormone therapy in August of 2004, transitioned and began living full time as myself in June of 2005. I successfully transitioned at my principal job at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. in 2005 and also at a part time job I held from 2002 to 2009.I retired from the university in February of 2012 after 33 years and retired to Cape Cod where I now live. I make earrings and pendants out of sea glass, also known as beach glass, I am an amateur photographer and I make a nuisance of myself by pestering all my elected officials to pass equal rights legislation for the trans community. I have and continue to speak at conferences and conventions, across the country, presenting gender identity / gender expression awareness training.Read more about this authorRead less about this author