Question:

There seem to be quite a few rumblings from the 'providing' side of the coin. The rumblings are being generated by an apparent slow down of hobbying.

Guys, are you slowing down? Is your slow down permanent or temporary? What factors have led you to your slow down? Or haven't you slowed down at all and the 'concerns' are ill-founded?

Myself; I simply don't have a very strong 'chase' gene in me. When the chase becomes tedious,difficult(twists,turns and bumps)or too fast paced I bail. Who the hell needs it.At this point I am content to sit back and watch others do THIER chasing. That is where I presently am. I don't allow ANY OTHER factors to affect me what-so-ever.

Testimonial:

I recently had the pleasure of spending the night(yes an overnight)with a wonderful young lady. I posted the result of that evening with enough detail to allow others to also enjoy it. At the time I was concerned that my mind was in all the wrong places. Before anyone has the opportunity to make this declaration, I will. I was a MORON for not recognizing the true nature of this young lady. I have never been with anyone(civie or pro)that has made the effort to ensure my enjoyment of 'time' than this beautiful creation.All of my other dates have simply desided that it was my responsibility to create any prevailing moods. This young lady and I have greatly defined our boundries/parameters and have agreed to continue our quest for each others pleasure. What I find immensly appealing is her desire for absolute UTR anonymity. At the young age of 22. What a GEM! Thanx to the few responding fellows that began my reflection there-of.

Have you been watching the news or reading the papers for the last 18 months or so?  There's been this little thing called a recession going on.  Unemployment skyrocketing, people losing a third or more of their net worth in the stock market, government bailouts to keep things like the financial and automobile industry afloat. Oh yeah, and people are losing their homes in record numbers!

Does any of this ring a bell? Can you understand why fighting for survival may cause some folks to curtail their indulging in recreational paid sex?

upside down!  Tends to make you rethink your priorities!  My need for "therapy" has switched from a provider to psychiatrist!!!  LOL

I personaly have continued to hobby at the same rate...  however, like many others, concerned about income & job security.  A lot of ordinary expenses are being closely monitered.
I see people out of work or under-employed.  That has got to impact cash available.
skb

It hasn't really slowed me down either but you can't NOT be aware of what has been going on.  There have been dozens of threads about the economy and the hobby on these boards for well over a year now.

Any of us who have not been affected by it should count ourselves as extremely fortunate.

But I'm trying to pump the brakes now, as I have been  out of control lately (including hazy memories of HOURS spent in the champagne room of a Las Vegas strip club!)

Even though the downturn has not hurt my business (it's probably helped it), I agree with BG that the number of posts from others clearly indicates the economy has pumped their brakes.

Please excuse me while I go pound my head against the wall for my Las Vegas transgressions, while repeatedly saying "FUGGIN' IDIOT! FUGGIN' IDIOT! FUGGIN' IDIOT!" like Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Boogie Nights"