Walked into a place I hadn't been to in over a year. Used to be my regular spot since it's close to where I live. Take a seat at the back bar. Get a drink. Scope things out. Go to the stage to tip a girl. Head over to the other bar. Look down the bar. See one of the dancers and know, right away ...
... it's someone I know from the 'real' world. Has run in my extended circle of friends off-and-on for about 10 years. Kinda hippy-ish in general, though she pulled off Marilyn Monroe with her real hair quite well for Halloween one year. When I first met her, she seemed into me and I was kinda into her. But when she later explained she was teaching elementary-age kids at a school centered around eastern mysticism and meditation, I decided she was too looney tunes to even risk getting involved with.
Through the years, found she wasn't quite as looney tunes as I originally thought but still fairly looney tunes. Two kids, different dads, neither still around. Knows most of my friends and my SO (in fact, really likes my SO). Last time I saw her, still good looking but a little overdone and, FWIW, a handshake with memorably dry hands (drugs?).
I pride myself on being a quick thinker and this made sense. She has to feed those mouths somehow and my guess is that her public lines of work don't get it done.
First thought: Leave. Now. Left the drink on the bar and walked out quickly. Sure, I've accidentally run into other customers I know before, in which case I honestly think the "If you don't tell anyone I was here, I'll do the same for you" rule applies. But who knows if the rules apply with a dancer. Told the bouncer I "got a call."
Never got physically close to her at all, so hopefully there's plausible deniability, though I checked her online materials and she's certainly not publicizing to the world she's doing what she's doing, so good chance that even if she did see me, the secret's safe, lest she reveal her own.
Second thought, on my way out: I guess I never really thought through things for dancers until this moment.
Do I have a problem with what she's doing? No. Do I think she'll be good at it? Honestly, yeah -- great body and I can see her being sensual. But I wish she didn't have to and wouldn't. I feel bad for her.
See, if it was all guys like me who were customers -- considerate, respectful, good tipper, yeah, horny and a rules-pusher, but never one to push beyond where the dancer says she's comfortable and always one to try and make the dancer feel good in addition to myself -- I'd have no problem with this whatsoever. But I know the creepy guys are out there, saying creepy things to her, revealing disgusting fetishes, trying to do creepy things to her, cheaping out on her, etc. In the end, it's those folks that make me wish she wasn't doing it because I know it can't be fun with those guys. That's where I feel bad for her.
I dunno. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable getting dances with her. When you get dances with a random hot chick, it's a throwaway. Passing ships in the night. We make each other happy and we don't ever have to see each other again. If I would have gotten dances with this woman, I would have really felt like I was cheating or using her, especially since I probably could have had her long before she had the kids and took this up. Also, will be a LONG time before I step foot in that club again.
It's one of those things. We go to these places to live a fantasy and get away from the misery in our lives and circles, not to be reminded of it. Oh well.

