Njguy2

Two comments for situations in comparable rich countries:
The default should be pay in the currency of the country you're in, and if he tells you his rate and doesn't specify the currency, assume he means local But ask him, and if he says USD is fine, ask what his rate is in USD, don't assume that your conversion of his stated rate is acceptable (he may not be able to convert at that rate, or he may want more than the going rate to compensate for real or perceived inconvenience - or his bank's fee - for converting the cash)

Well he’d certainly be the benchmark by which all others would be measured!

West Texas Intermediate doesn't work quite so well..

Baby Reindeer is incredible...but very dark 
For a lighter bit of entertainment I recommend Dead Boy Detectives. 
Great art direction and direction in general. Good casting and scripts. 
A dead gay Victorian gentleman ghost meets a dead straight(ish) ghost from the 1980s and form a detective agency. Cute series with spooky stories and campy humor. It's very well put together. I enjoyed every episode and binged a few at a time. 
The story of a struggle by a Victorian gay man (ghost) to "come-out" in modern times is well written and well performed by a cute young British/American actor (with a non-specific personal sexual identity ... according to the Internet). 
Best new series of the year for me.
The well done coming-out story and some other cute gay characters may interest some of the gentlemen here.

This is exactly right.  
If you like someone, you help them.  You don't hoard them like an asshole.
That said, if he's good at what he does, he'll find a larger client base with or without one person's lip service.

I’d expect fresh flowers, somewhere to hang my clothes, some candles for atmosphere, music playing (something classical, I find Mahler or Debussy quite good for massage), Egyptian cotton sheets on the bed of course (not too high a thread count…I’ll judge you on that) and a phone charger should my phone be running low. Payment should be done discreetly afterwards (I find it awkward to ask so please offer it as I dress, in cash). 
Seriously though….all I look for with an out call is a clean and tidy room, space for my table (if I’ve bought it), no distractions and the possibility to shower afterwards. It sounds like you have all that and more covered! 
 
 

You are going a little overboard, arent you? I mean, homemade bread? Is he kneading you or the dough? 😋 Is he staying over?  Maybe just ask him his beverage of choice and dont try too hard to impress. Condoms, lube and a smile is all you really need! 😉

Every now and again I go to a gay bar, usually when I am on vacation.  I enjoy people watching and checking out whatever attractive men are there..  I do not expect to pick someone up.  In fact, I am fine if no one speaks to me, but usually, someone does and I will have a fun, usually superficial conversation.  Certainly I find it more entertaining then heading back to the hotel after dinner.  So I am old. I am okay with my looks and my life and I find an occasional  night out at a bar checking out men I will never have, enjoyable.  I am actually someone you should aspire to be, an old man who has seen better days and also has seen better days than 90% of the younger, fitter gay guys at that bar will ever see.  When I leave the bar, almost always alone, I head back to a life I am happy to have.   

Puffy Hole would be a fantastic rap name

I’m an old gay man but nothing sad about me. I don’t have sunken eyes and I keep my figure trim by eating right and getting exercise into my weekly routine. 
I also have a life outside my gay world and am associated with several non gay  causes that keep me busy contributing my talents and time. I keep in touch with my family members. 
I haven’t been in a gay bar in ages except for one visit to Campus in Montreal recently. I do go to restaurants which gays frequent but not exclusively. 
The world consists of all sorts of people and I try to expose myself to a wide variety to keep the proper perspective on what it means to be social. 
 
 

Holy crap, that was you in town yesterday?
God, I wanted to run you over. 
grin

I'd probably do drugs too if someone took me to a food court

The best advice I have heard on lending money is only lend an amount of money you would not be upset to never get back. It's crazy how many people lend money and put themselves into debt to do it or financial difficulty. Obviously that wasn't you @Rick M but just my input.

You got scammed dude, it happens to the best of us. Move on and don’t make the same mistake again. Sorry he got one over on you. It sucks. 

What is this "sex" of which you speak?

Seriously, this is getting out of hand. People literally create profiles just to leave a “review”. Ridiculous. 

This is how I know a provider cares about my satisfaction. I’ve said those 4 words to some providers who were in a hurry to finish the session and I could not get their hands and mouth off my dick.  But the good ones?  They’d slow down and change things up with just the slightest nudge or cue from me.

This can sometimes be an issue with me depending on the provider, mood, or how recently I came. When this happens, I have no problem saying that we need to take a break, and even breaking contact (pulling out or guiding them off or away). Never been a problem, and providers have been more than happy to make sure I'm getting the desired experience.
So, I would provide some direction along with those four words, eg. "I come very easily, so we may need to slow down or back off at times."
 

If I see you for extended visits- weekends or longer- for years, then you're a regular.
It's not just about the time or money spent, for me it's do we know each other?

A regular client eats lots of fiber

Times per month?
I hired someone regularly (usually once per month) for a period of years and I certainly considered myself "a regular."  I also considered myself a regular of a guy whom I only saw a few times per year when he was in my area.

'Hey escorts, what makes you work for free'
I'm sure the replies will be incredibly meaningful, insightful and inspirational.

This! YEARS ago one of my oldest friends shared that too with me. I was dubious - not really believing the old wives tales about big feet, big nose, hat size, etc. - I mean you are going to run into well hung men that have those attributes, but it’s no guarantee. But she swore by the nail beds.
 
I started to take notice after being with one blessed man, and looking at his nail beds muttered “damn her!” lol  After him, I kept track for a bit, and she was right.
BBD 

This may seem weird, but I’ve seen to notice penis size correlates with finger nail length.  I don’t mean how far they grow out, but actually the bed of the nail.  The longer the nail bed, the bigger the peepee.

In most walks of life, if the other person doesn't bring it up, you shouldn't either.