For clients:
My attitude is currently very low.
At first the hobby was satisfying a great need in my life.
Excitement, touch, connection, but I have become disillusioned.
Yes, my fault, I was under some illusions.
I now see there is a spectrum of providers out there.
The spectrum runs from those that are in it only for the money - could even be short term - or a means to an end.
To those that are in it for the money of course but also really enjoy the work - are polyamourous - advocates for a change in society to accept SW and decriminalize.

I would never quit my career in sex work unless of course i started hating it for some odd reason.Ive gotten a lot of healing through doing sex work and for me i consider it a calling and a lifestyle...

Seuss fan,

If so, don't worry. It will pass.  
I'm an old fool, and loving it.

Sometimes for the better (see MrFisher's comment) and sometimes not.  It is a harsh day indeed when the hobbyist's fantasy bubble bursts and you have to either accept it for what it's worth or you have to move on and never look back.   I too have experienced, more so lately than in my previous several years, a low point in enjoyment and my feeling more like an ATM.  I think it happens to most hobbyists, especially if you develop feelings toward ATF's that are not returned as you have fantasized.   I continually am amazed at the particular emotional skill sets providers have to have to maintain themselves in this line of work.  Those best at it are simply amazing how they can make us feel so special while with them without any strings attached on their part and move on with their time and lives.  

I enjoy the absolute honesty of the arrangement. She is there for the money, I am there to spend quality time with a woman who is way out of my league. It's great when we can thoroughly enjoy each other's company while filling the expectations.

I'm also polyamorous and it's awesome finding a fellow poly person! Though I have one question: what does your atf being poly have to do with a better experience. Is she doing this behind a partner's back and you don't like that?  Is she naturally monogamous and brings up wanting to settle down, get married etc so you feel bad?  

Hmmmmmmm. My mindset is that of a dirty slut. Hahah jk. But not really. I am very happy in my life, happiest I've ever been in fact. Could have to do with my lifestyle choices,I eat well,I volunteer, hula hoop and pretty much live life doing EXACTLY how I want,doing what I want. As for this industry,it's something I do for fun. I love sex..Iove getting paid well for soemthing I would do for free anyway. I have a very fun career that I plan on doing a long time,I plan on escorting until it bores me. I am saving for a piece of land so I can go be a werid desert rat in the middle of nowhere. But I very much live life in the moment. Eventually I could see myself fighting for legalization and helping other women in the business. I will probably always be around escorts in some way shape or fashion. They fascinate me lol.  

Whether I'm working as a secretary, nurse, or a wife,  
the Vagina has to be managed,  

I am into my late 60's. I was very unhappy in my marriage, there was no intimacy for many years.
I was lonely and miserable. Then one fine day, I realized that I might die just like this, unhappy, lonely and feeling low about my self. Depression was about take over my life because I was going thru chemo and radiation following surgery.
Thank God, I came across TER and how to hobby and gathered enough courage to try . First few attempts were really a learning curve for a guy like me who marri d his sweetheart and am still marri d to her after 37 yrs.
I always sought P411 providers with reviews and kept meeting new ones till I hit the jackpot!!!
I have been seeing her regularly since 2011. She is the best thing that happened to me , ever.
I admire her, adore her, respect her because we have become friends.
I realize that she is doing it out of financial necessity. Someday, may be she will not do it anymore or may be she will.
It's her decision to make. It is not going to break the bond of friendship we have with each other, whatever her decision would be later in her life.
I am more than 30 yrs older than she is, therefore I thank God everyday for making my life worth living by bringing us together. She keeps me mentally as well physically healthy.  
I don't label her as my mistress because then it would mean that she is second to someone else.
She is not. She is No. 1 to me, even though I am married and she knows about it.
Both of us, respect each other, share whatever time she can with me, because as a single mother she has a handful of responsibility and she is the best mom to her son and I am very proud of her in that regard.
I would have died long time ago if i had not met her thru this hobby.
I love her as a friend, the best and the prettiest girl friend any one could have!  
Amen.

At the start of your hobby career, you should have noticed that they are showing you out exactly one or two or three hours after you got there.  This should dispel any "illusions" you have about what's really going on.  Yes, I have gotten very close with some of my regulars over the years, and even remained good enough friends after they retired to meet for lunch or dinner once in a while and catch up as old friends do.  Unless a girl tells you the magic words, which are:  "You're my real life boyfriend now, so you don't have to pay anymore,"  there is absolutely no reason why anyone in their right mind should ever be "disillusioned."  If you are, you did it to yourself, so perhaps you should take a break from hobbying until you find some perspective about what's real and what's not.  

if you don't have emotional discipline and emotional maturity you're going to get hurt in the world so start working on them now.

Aweeeeee.... Your post absolutely warmed my heart !!
I am happy that you found your special unicorn Rippington

I am most likely the least emotionally mature person on this board and I am not about to get hurt in this world.  

Are we all somewhat lacking something emotional, physical even mental for being a part of the hobby life?  

I'd say I'm pretty good. It's difficult to get into the normal dating scene to meet women. I've been in this game since the mid 1980's. I look at women as just play toys. I know I shouldn't. But it's been a long time I've been playing this game. I can never go the traditional dating route to meet women.  

I am most likely wrong. It was just intuition. Which could be normal horrible guy intuition. When I get an intuition though that turns out to be true - this is the feeling I get.

if I learned there was a jealous SO at home. I'm sure that is the case for some. I don't know that I could ever know that for sure. But I have learned the opposite about a few providers. We get chatty and they tell me about their success in finally finding companionship that embraces their line of work. Rare I know. But I am fine only seeing one or two providers a year if I could only see ones that are in that position in their lives.  

and that could be part of it.
Perhaps I felt that friendship was not in the cards

Onefishtwofishredfish.......you make some very valid points and the responses that follow do as well. The reality is: Everything Changes AND Everything Stays the Same.  

I say let that thang run wild!

... we are doing something outside the norm, after all. But not necessarily lacking, I'd say!

Ok, I get what you're saying, makes sense. It's kind of like how some providers or sugar babies aren't comfortable seeing married men because they think about the SO at home who may or may not be ok with the situation.

but I would like to make love with my wife more than 2 times a year over the past 7 or 8 years.
One could say my patience finally ran out. (my love did not)

normally I would be one to be strung along and a different provider could very well have tried....sensing my growing attachment.

that I have a wife. We discussed that the first time and a little more in detail this time.

How about web site help for the seasoned and IT challenged? lol

In my mind there really isn't anything else that's comparable career wise that would appeal to me except maybe being a professional tour book writer and traveling all over the world?  I work when I want, I answer to myself only and I get to meet new people and sometimes have orgasms on the job.  The money is good but if it was all about that I would be working more than I do.  

I believe that we are ALL works in progress, it's just a matter of whether you are paying attention to the progress or oblivious to it. It's generally better to ride the wave than to try and fight the ocean.

Polyamory yes...this is a kink for me too.  Started as one and has developed into more.  I enjoy being Valued...admired and desired.  What lady does not?!  

I am fucking bat shit crazy, and have the documents to prove it. Was there any doubt?

MOST people on average, do what they have to do to get the bills paid...nothing more nothing less. Adult work is no different, there are some who see it as a calling, others who enjoy some parts of the work but primarily see it as good steady money, and those who hate their jobs but do it because it's an expedient way to get paid.