Is there anything that you know now or have learned in this hobby that you wished you'd have known when you started

I wish I knew what TER was or even existed. Like many or most here ai started with AMPS and then " front page". Had many good experiences, some OK, and a few really bad.
Since TER and P411 the worst has been an OK experience or two and looking back most of the original good experiences were ladies on TER and p411
Thinking back about the risks I took scares me.

I might have been more discreet.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Applies to providers also. I always thought the saying had to do with "love" only so it didn't apply to providers (Um yes, it does, but in a different way.)
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. -Prov. There is nothing as unpleasant as a woman who thinks she has been offended or whose attention has not been returned in the way she wanted, when she wanted. -how dare you!

since when you put aside the marketing and photo shopped pics and all of the flowery language, you are just simply seeing another person, a regular person, just like you, with most of the same wants, desires, problems and whatever and that they are they are just human. Now, I still get those nervous feelings as I walk up some stairs or take an elevator ride, but those are kind of fun now-the anticipation of seeing exactly who is on the other side of the door.

Unless she is well reviewed in here.

and look at the reviewers' other scores and reviews. PM reviewers whose scores are a mix, and not all 10/10.

and discretion had nothing to do with the end of my marriage, it was simply a matter of "how much is my freedom worth?" The answer of course being "whatever it costs, it will be worth it" and twenty something years later I still feel it was the best decision I ever made.

When I began looking into the hobby, TER had been around for a while. If I would have found the TER site sooner, I would have started the hobby sooner. Much sooner. Entering the hobby was easy, and has been enjoyable.

I wish I met the provider I'm seeing 10 years ago.

...he may dress up like a clown, but I like this post he made. I've had trouble remembering this type of wisdom, all my life in all situations, especially with providers. Thanks for the reminder to put the KIBOSH on the nerves.

I learned that the hobby is much safer than I once perceived it to be, as long as one uses common sense and not be lax on doing their research.  Having gotten my start at the legal brothels in Nevada almost 15 yrs ago, I knew very little of the indie/escort scene back in those early days and I though seeing indies/escorts was way to risky.  Then a few years later, a friend directed me to TER and gave some pointers on finding well reviewed providers and the rest is history!

let the date evolve as it should on that particular day. Just let it flow.

Never new until I got busted what a snoop my wife was.  There were so many signs but I never picked up on them and was careless.  Got caught red handed when she went into my mail and had it burried pretty good a few folders down so DAMN, she must have spent hours looking.