goldfish21 wrote:
But, knowing what I know now, and knowing there's been extended periods where I haven't had a sex drive and thus didn't bother having sex (different than wanting it and not getting it, I realize) and having more life experience.. I'm more of the mindset of one of my high school friends back then who said "It's just sex." As in, "So what? Who cares? It's a thing. It happens. People enjoy it. BUT, it's not everything." Easy for someone to say who's having sex vs. someone who isn't, but Truly, I now see his point. Once you've passed that point of virginity stress/pressure, and especially if you've had a lot of sex whether with one significant other or multiple partners, while it's still sex and still a very pleasurable human experience, it just becomes.. not something that you put up on on such a pedestal anymore. It's not THAT big of deal anymore and you're way better able to focus on other things in life worthy of your time & energy, whether that's a special interest or hobby or volunteer work or sports or whatever - there's PLENTY more to life than sex. I know, I know, easier said than done for the mindset of someone who is involuntarily celibate.. but if there is one thing I could teach someone who is involuntarily celibate to do if I were able, it would be that. So that they could genuinely enjoy themselves and their lives w/o the nagging feeling that they want to get laid but can't seem to pull it off.
This! A thousand times, this!
I remember being a virgin at 22, when I used fall over myself and bend over backwards for a chance at sex. Until I lost my virginity to an escort in 2005. Between then and 2017, I had sex with 36 escorts. Tall, short, petite, full-figured, 21, 51, blonde, brunette, redhead, mainstream, fetishist, I've been with them all! One time, in 2010, I even had a threesome with two bisexual escorts; I came close to calling off work next morning, and it took two weeks to stop smiling!

By contrast, I had sex for free 5 times, first time in 2007, and they were all quite meh.
In 2017, I developed a massive aversion to sex, to the point of being disgusted by it. Even porn disgusts me now. It was caused by seeing people get into relationships (which means sex) that are like prisons, nothing related to my escort habit. (Which was dangerous too, since I put in a lot of effort into dodging the police.) As a result, I feel how many aspie men wish they could feel: completely apathetic toward sex, if not outright disgusted by it. Unfortunately, the only way to reach that state, is after having sex enough times to treat as a closed chapter in life.