[The First Aria]

I once heard a joke that goes like this

"whats the difference between a crossdresser and a transexual?"

the answer: "about a year"

that isn't always accurate, of course, but was spot on in my case.  I had a wish to crossdress, which became a need to crossdress over time, which became a wish to transition, which became a need to transition over the course of a year and a half.  the deeper I dove into it, the more layers of the male costume I had put on to protect myself growing up.  I used to know I was really a girl, but between my family and my school/conservitive region I wouldn't have survived long without assimilating some male culture.

again, just my experience.....

Another one is .......  the difference is one has a hobby, the other a way of life.  Not so much a joke, but.....