I'll never say that I've lost the urge to look, but I really don't play any more.  I've made many friends on TER that I've had a meal, a round of drinks, or some good down home conversation with.  The split is pretty even between male & female, and the friendships are different, but I truly enjoy the interaction.  I've got a personal and professional life outside of here, but I'm far more open here than there.

Haven't been to a M&G in almost a year, but I'm always looking for the next one.

friends

Its loads of fun, and I have met people that i consider to be friends now!

I do think that this is a sort of subculture of my life.  While there are a few "civie" friends of mine who know what I do, for the most part, most of my "hobby" friends are separate from my civie friends.  Every now and then, the paths will overlap, as I have one or two female friends that I have met through the hobby that I know no longer think of as "work friends", just friends.  I have also met several gentleman who I communicate with on a friendship level, whether it be over the phone or email, or in person.  Naturally when you spend a considerable amount of time with a person, bonds are formed, even though they are of course formed with limits.  However, no matter how comfy we get, I am probably not going to be taking you out with all my hometown girlfriends, nor are you going to bring me to your golf game and introduce me to all your buddies.  I guess I do consider it a lifestyle.  But it's Alyssa's lifestyle, and not the lifestlye of my other civilian personality.  I love that I get to enjoy BOTH lives.  Even if it's a business, it's virtually impossible not to meet people you like while you're at work.  I think I've got it pretty good.

I blogged my answer last night... here ya go!

For your’s truly, this entire world of the hobby is a subculture.  It is certainly not my lifestyle; I don’t shave my legs on my days off.   It’s definitely not a past time; I don’t do it because I’m bored and I’d never equate it to knitting.  Therefore, it is an entire subculture.



The Hobby.



A place where you keep your skeletons in your closet while creating them behind someone’s closed doors.  An entire world of reality built on fantasy and desire.  A subculture that exists on the revolving door of men and women that are capable of creating an experience within seconds.



Even within The Hobby, several subcultures exist.  There is massage only, streetwalkers, girls with pimps, agency girls, $200 girls, $500 girls, $1000 girls, touring girls, porn stars…  It goes on and on.



I have found a very comfortable place in The Hobby.  I have met some extremely brilliant and amazing men and women who I have learned a lot from and who I genuinely love.  The network of men and women I have chosen to surround myself with know there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them right now, or even in the future.  The Hobby has made me appreciate that true beauty really does come within, that everything has a price tag, and setting limits is okay.  The Hobby has taught me a lot about my body, my likes and dislikes, friendships, and business.



I’m pretty thankful my friend, Kendall (EC1), introduced me to this little piece of the world.  I wouldn’t have ever discovered it on my own and it’s a pretty kewl place, lol…  I’ll be sticking around for awhile!



Love,

dk

I can't believe you can spell compartmentalized but not discussion or hobby. LOL
Spell check anyone?