In a way, I think you are setting unrealistic expectations expecting a real-life guy to be like your clients.
Because we're all the same person.
Everyone is different when you first start dating, the guy is putting his best foot forward and trying to impress you, the lady is being all attentive and pretending to be into all the things that interest him.
After a while, the effort to maintain this facade becomes too much and elements of our real "selves" start showing up and all of a sudden he's not "mister perfect" any more and she's really not that interested in you.
I know that if I kept seeing the same provider, just like when I date a civie, I'd eventually get to know the real them and some of the magic would be gone and you're left with someone who probably takes you for granted to some degree and doesn't flatter you and dote on you like they use to.
By seeing providers/clients instead of dating, you are constantly having first dates or staying in the honeymoon phase of the relationship.
Which I'm not knocking, relationships are hard and it's a lot funner to be with someone who's constantly on their best behavior and treating you like a king.
I'm great at dating.
I'm great at starting relationships.
I just suck at maintaining that intensity on into an actual "relationship".
So, here I am...for now anyway.
Maybe, somewhere out there is someone who will make me want to be the "best me" all the time and she'll want to be the "best her" for me.
Who knows?
Originally Posted by riday
To be clear I conduct myself as a gentleman with any lady (pro or not) but that is exactly it. With a pro I can be me. I don't need to worry if I'm making a good impression or not or what she really thinks of me.
Shorty....
I think you have it right. Years ago, I stopped looking and stopped dating in my personal life - than one day I realized the man of my dreams was right in front of me. He was also a client. After we discussed our feelings, we realized we both felt the same way about each other and began dating outside of the "hobby". I adored his family and child and my family adored him as well. We had a beautiful five years of happiness living together and never had one problem or argument.
When I am ready to begin dating again, I personally would want to date a man I met in this "hobby"....the upside....I don't have to go through the awkward conversation of telling him what I do, nor do I have to lie to him. (just my opinion)
Originally Posted by ForbiddenFriend1
But for many of us....it isn't the awkward conversation it is the all the other (judgemental) folks in our lives (family, business associates, etc.)