The quest for finding true love is never easy. We risk and risk and sometimes the risk is great and may hurt. But we can't give up, right? Just give it time to heal. Open hearts always get hurt and it's always painful.

Yep, flirting is dangerous at times. In the workplace, it can be misconstrued as sexual harrassment (so that's why that's a place you don't do that often unless the lady makes a move on you first). In most European countries (like Scandinavia), there's no such thing as sexual harrassment since women are perceived to be able to take care of themselves amongst men without these god forsaken sexual harrassment laws. God, I love working in Europe.
If you flirt, flirt outside of work. And it does not hurt that much to be bold.

Anyway, continue to hobby - it can be good for self esteem. Nice guys like us deserve better.

A way to get off for you and hopefully a woman and a business venture for her.  You will meet many women who you like, even admire, but unless one overtly ask you for a relationship, you should simply enjoy the sessions and move on.
    The best way to handle the civvi relationships is to not get wrapped up in whether a woman is interested in you, if she is she will definitely let you know, and she will not be flirting.  The best thing to do with women who you work with is to socialize in group functions with them, that gives them a chance to evaluate you without pressure.
    I have one question for you.  Did the coworker that flirted with you confide important personal thing with you?  If not, then you were just another person who she interacted with, if she did, then maybe there was something more there, but even then, you should let her take it at her own pace.

Man, I feel your pain.  Yep, I'm another "just friends" guy.  Dating has always stunk, and it's getting worse each year.  After trying my best for years, I'm giving up civi dating because it's making me hate all women and, well, the world in general.  This is not good!  Joining this hobby just might help keep me sane. It doesn't do any good to hate the whole world.  Hobbying help me love the beautiful moments (however expensive!) and move on in life.

and take THAT part as a good thing.

When I first moved to SD, I was out all day running errands with a friend, and three times in that day, WOMEN had attempted to 'pick up' on me. By the end of the day, I was a bit insulted.
My friend said why be insulted. Attraction is attraction and that's a compliment, no?

If someone flirts with you, just be complimented that you're being paid attention to, or maybe someone is drawing you out, get you to relax, and lighten up, laugh, and live.
Don't be so serious about it - but enjoy. (OK?)

And strength isn't measured by how much we've had happen to us, but by our reactions to it (how many times we keep getting up).

I have a friend who is butt ugly and not rich. Still, he is happily married (the woman is not attractive in my opinion) and enjoys life.

Open your horizons, don't concentrate on a woman's looks, and you might be surprised how wonderful a real relationship can be.

This hobby is no substitute for the real thing anymore than bowling is a substitute for a real job (unless you are a professional bowler). We call it a hobby for a reason.

I have terrible luck in relationships. My problem is that I always meet men who lie about all sorts of stuff. I'm so sick of it. Another problem is I've dated clients. I had vowed to never do that again but this one client I really had feelings for him & he acted really serious about me. He persisted about us getting serious. We did, at least I thought.

I now find out he's still married, he said he was divorced & he lied about everything. The signs were there but he explained them away. I finally know for sure now and feel like such a fool. How depressing is that? I am getting over it but miss him very much. A male friend I talked this over w/ last night said I am a fool if I think this guy feels bad about what he did to me. I know he doesn't. The saddest thing is it was like a game to him it seems.

I want to meet a man to share my life with. But I don't see any reason to keep getting hurt. In the business, it's hard because our job is always used against us, in my experience. The married guy even acted like he wanted me to quit my job & he wasn't even being honest about being divorced! It is really hard to meet the right one I guess. I was out with my ex BF recently and he was drunk (that's when he acts like he likes me all of a sudden). He was all over me. I was like you kiss too fast, he does, it's dangerous almost! And I said I have always wanted you to take your time with me. And you know what he said, he kisses like that cause he just wants to get the goodies.      

I hope you meet someone special. Sorry that provider screwed you over, but it's happened to me with clients. The worst is when you stop charging one who you think is you BF and find out he's paying another girl and seeing you now for free! This has happened most of the times I've dated a client, but I didn't make that stupid mistake this time. And of course it would be okay if they were honest about it, but they say I am the only one they see & that they love me and it's all a lie.

Sorry for the long post!
Sara