You might find out you like the water, and then you'll be kickin' yourself for waiting so long.

Aloha!

So I am looking for some friendly advice, a kind pat on the back or possibly just a boot in the butt.

I've been curious about partaking in the hobby for a very long time, but (as you might already have noticed) I haven't balled up and done something about it yet. So I thought I might throw a post up here with some questions and see what you all think.

I have a couple of the obvious fears.. STDs, getting caught and how to choose the "right" woman.

I actually made an attempt with a woman who posts occasionally on this board but after a polite call or 2 she totally fell through on her end of the deal. Tried a second time and same result. Which is a little frustrating to put it lightly.

Any thoughts? Precautions? Suggestions for a first timer?

Thanks kids!

First of all, if you see well-reviewed providers, STD's should be a minor concern.  Whether they are full-time providers or part-time, you are probably safer with then then the hot chick you might have picked up in the bar last night.  

As far as getting caught, I don't know if you mean by LE or your SO.  A well-reviewed provider is probably going to be pretty safe as far as LE goes.  Only you can protect yourself from getting caught by the SO.  If you do have an SO, use a throw-away hobby phone, and a hobby-only email address.

Not sure what happened with your latest attempts.  You said she posts occasionally here.  Does she have reviews?  Have you read them?  Have you gotten VIP membership?  You might have said something that set off her spidey-sense  to cause her to back out.  I don't know any more to say since you didn't say much about the conversations.

Search for 'research' in this forum, you should find some helpful hints eventually.

Swim

Upper right corner near the life preserver and then read back as many pages of this board as you'd like.  Almost every question you have, has been asked and answered.

After you have read the self help section twice...  read back on this board.  Not to be rude, but you must view these things through the filter of your own situation & only you can do that.  And all this education is FREE!!  It would also be helpfu to at least scan the other boards for useful information.

Then get familiar with the review search feature for your area.  Eventually you'll need VIP to read the full reviews.

Do not get hung up on "the right woman".  This is pay for play, not a dating site.  She may be (or more correctly give the illusion of) a Girl Friend while you are behind closed doors.  You are not!!  When you depart & the door closes between you, you are strangers again.  
It is very easy to get hung up on a woman you have great sex with.  You must keep your emotions on a short leash.   Clients who get hung up on providers are called stalkers & the provider immediately breaks contact & you never see her again.  
skb

Yes.. I totally deserve the "search douchebag" scolding. And I did. I've actually been a silent member of the site for about 5the years. this login screen is new as I forgot the old one. So i'm familiar with a lot of the above suggestions. I guess I was just looking for advice. Though I am still befuddled by the woman I spoke with. She had a bunch of great reviews. I followed her instructions, name,  numbers, work info etc. But she simply never bothered to confirm any of them.

Again, I accept the scolding, but that's also why I posted in the boston specific section, as i'm looking for local advice. Make sense?

I did say "right woman" in the sense that I'd like to have fun as opposed to some general angry witch from craigs list or something!

Any more clear?

who doesn't, then why wait.  I just wish I would have started when I was younger.  As long as you budget your funds and don't use the rent or grocery money, treat yourself to some fun.

Thing is.. there is little better in the world than sex with a stranger.

But yeah.. no rent or grocery money! I am fortunate enough that, while burning $3-$400 for an hours entertainment is still painful in principle, it's not going to cause the mortgage to not get paid!