Thank you, Lotus!
I just kind of wanted to get a feel, and the results are pretty much as I expected. 50% of us would want to transition but for "other factors". And, of course, there are a spectacular myriad of those that could be at work for any of us. Age, family, absolute certainty that we might never "pass", fear, money (of course) and on and on.
But, there is also something of the "confessional booth" about this board.
As pointed out so wisely in reply to dear Sarah. "That's what this board is for."
Sure, we all come here for information we can use to grow our boobies, but I believe there is more to it than that.
I don't think the passage is there anymore, but on the older Renee Reyes website she had a lovely piece. It described why so many males look into transition to one degree or another rather later than the ideal. To paraphrase, the premise was that many males are faced with issues when young, but fail to act because of societal pressure to conform. Instead, suffering as a result with fears and anxieties about being gay, or a "sissy" or a pervert or whatever, they try to prove their normality by accentuating their masculine side. Many join the military to prove they are real men. But many get married, often in their early twenties. They are then thrust into roughly twenty years of dealing with parenthood, because fathering children is perceived as the ultimate way to "prove" masculinity. But along the way, the old feelings refuse to go away, and so you find many who pass through the endless purchase and purge cycles during this time. But then, usually around the mid 40's to 50's,they are seeing their kids leaving home and suddenly the midlife thing happens and there is this epiphany. "My life is slipping away and it has been based on a lie. I need to figure this out while I still can"
Sound familiar to anyone?
It is a VERY common story.
How many here have no one or only a spouse with whom to discuss the why's where's and how to's of what brought them here, what they are doing and feeling, and how long it has been bottled up inside? I love to see my friends here opening up and more importantly, feeling comfortable in this place to do so. I like to see this resource and support group used!
I thought this thread might encourage that. I mean, where else do people like us go?
I also thought, since the poll requires no comment, that we might encourage a little initial participation from all those "shy" friends who are either registered but never post, or not yet registered. My wouldn't we have a busy board if even a few of our guests actually jumped in.

I have an idea for another poll I think might be interesting. Maybe later today if I can motivate my lazy behind. Heh heh