Is a Hooker cheaper than having a wife or girlfriend?

[Captainhowdy666]

But do you want more to your life with women than just sex?

That's why I use sites like Whats Your Price so I can get "dates" too and it costs a lot less than it would to take my regular escort out, because she would charge the same hourly rate regardless of what we are doing.

Wives though pose potential problems when the relationship ends and they expect half of everything if not more, without giving you anything in return anymore. And of course, if they find out you are seeing escorts, that is likely to be the outcome.

Yoy got a link to that site ?

[GreyDave]

I like the car analogy - 20 years ago I committed to a sporty little number which was great fun to drive. She has given great service but has become increasingly unreliable and frankly a bit of an old banger.

When I want some fun I rent a more modern model (or sometimes a classic) but cannot afford to buy one outright.

   Great    1st wife was a bit of a Lux Motor / Blonde Big Tits  to expensive and run off with a BBC guy who left her with kids I did get involved with one of those Italian exotics once it was Great but the bills were just scarey     

[Offtoasda]

Erm I will state my personal opinion, however please note this is based on my personal experience.  I hope we don't argue but just accept that everyone sees things differently based on what they've gone through.

I personally think a girlfriend is just so much cheaper than a hooker.  Especially if you are the type of person that likes long sessions of sex.  I think back to when I was in a relationship.  She would come round most evenings during the week and stay from Fri-Sun evening.  If I put a financial cost of what I spent to entertain her, it was mainly just food, and a little bit of weed.  We took it in turns to buy weed.  In a week maybe £40 maximum. 

Now was she as attractive as most of the hookers I've banged from VS/Adultwork? Nope!  She wasn't a PAWG and she didn't have a massive chest.  She didn't give a Pornstar experience.  She was actually fairly average but she was fine enough for me.

Now that I'm single, if I wanted to do an overnight for 2-3 nights a week with a reasonable English woman in her 20s.  I don't even want to think what the monthly cost of that would be. 

Now a wife that's a whole different ball game.  I haven't been married so I can't comment.  But I would imagine it would be quite expensive.

[NelsonH]

You boys just don't seem to understand marriage at all.

My wife does:
1. all the cooking
2. all the shopping
3. all the laundry
4. all the cleaning
5. half the gardening
6. has a well paid job and pays half the bills
7. runs her own car

Cost that lot up and you'll find she's good value.

Of course she doesn't do any sex. Not even a cuddle.  No interest, after having two kids.  Pleased to get the menopause.

[JamesKW]

You boys just don't seem to understand marriage at all.

My wife does:

6. has a well paid job and pays half the bills


Cost that lot up and you'll find she's good value.

Of course she doesn't do any sex. Not even a cuddle.  No interest, after having two kids.  Pleased to get the menopause.

Exactly, even if you just look on it as a financial transaction,the op is based on the O/H sitting at home,nowdays women can earn as much as men,sometimes more.If I took out all the costs which I would have to pay for anyway I doubt the O/H costs as much as £1000 per month,not to mention the great joy of children or grand children.

[daviemac]

[Thread drift alert]

It's a pity you haven't put this much effort into posting reviews or some other useful contributions. 

[Mr Doodle]

Er 5 reviews and haven't punted since my last review (sadly, sometimes life doesn't work out as planned). 89 posts I would say isn't going to set the world on fire, but it is a contribution - you can determine your view of whether or not the contiribution of those is useful or not.


And don't put much effort into the reviews.. if I recall, at least some found them useful and amusing.

[BRBRBR]

Yoy got a link to that site ?

unsuprisingly
External Link/Members Only

[daviemac]

Er 5 reviews and haven't punted since my last review (sadly, sometimes life doesn't work out as planned). 89 posts I would say isn't going to set the world on fire, but it is a contribution - you can determine your view of whether or not the contiribution of those is useful or not.


And don't put much effort into the reviews.. if I recall, at least some found them useful and amusing.

I said putting effort into posting reviews, not review content.  I gave up on your last post so I really have no idea what you were rambling on about, though I did struggle to see what it had to do with this thread.

[Thephoenix]

You boys just don't seem to understand marriage at all.

My wife does:
1. all the cooking
2. all the shopping
3. all the laundry
4. all the cleaning
5. half the gardening
6. has a well paid job and pays half the bills
7. runs her own car

Cost that lot up and you'll find she's good value.

Of course she doesn't do any sex. Not even a cuddle.  No interest, after having two kids.  Pleased to get the menopause.

I think it's time to trade mine in.

[KerachiDope]

My wise old uncle would tell me in my teenage years “Young blood, you pay a prossie to cum, and go.”

[Colston36]

I do but it's very difficult to find women that you can actually click with. If I don't find them intelligent, articulate, or fun to be with then it can be quite boring and then all you can think about is shagging them. Ultimately, it's always about sex at the end of the day, it may start off like it's something different but the sexual attraction is usually the drive that sets you off.

I think marriage is the final nail in the coffin and anyone who decides to go that way thinking they are in love will sadly find out the hard way that love is nothing but a ticking timebomb that usually goes off after 2 or 3 years leaving you shattered into pieces, homeless and broke.

Were you really "after 2 or 3 years shattered into pieces, homeless and broke"? How did you recover? Or is that a flight of fantasy? You seem ok now.

My last wife certainly cleaned me out financially but all my other partners were pretty much ok - and I was no angel: got what I deserved really..

I should say that in my 85 years I have found just as many "quite boring" men as women. Come to think of it the 5 or 6 whores I see regularly are just as good company as most males I know.

[Hobbit]

Were you really "after 2 or 3 years shattered into pieces, homeless and broke"? How did you recover? Or is that a flight of fantasy? You seem ok now.

My last wife certainly cleaned me out financially but all my other partners were pretty much ok - and I was no angel: got what I deserved really..

I should say that in my 85 years I have found just as many "quite boring" men as women. Come to think of it the 5 or 6 whores I see regularly are just as good company as most males I know.

No. It is just based on so many stories I have heard from many people about being married. 99% of people that I have encountered have all regretted it. Some have lost large amounts of income, property, children, and even their pets.

So for me, it's a fantasy that I certainly don't want, and a lot of people, mostly women want to get married because of status or the ideology of it. Who doesn't want to be a bride? 

Generally, I find people quite boring too, and after a few days, they tend to start pissing me off. I have only met 2 women in my life that have really caught my attention and enjoyed having conversations with them. Most are boring like shit.

[Doc Holliday]

No. It is just based on so many stories I have heard from many people about being married. 99% of people that I have encountered have all regretted it. Some have lost large amounts of income, property, children, and even their pets.

So for me, it's a fantasy that I certainly don't want, and a lot of people, mostly women want to get married because of status or the ideology of it. Who doesn't want to be a bride? 

Generally, I find people quite boring too, and after a few days, they tend to start pissing me off. I have only met 2 women in my life that have really caught my attention and enjoyed having conversations with them. Most are boring like shit.

99% really? My experience of marriage both my own and others differs widely to that. This topic is always heavily skewed on a punting forums.

There is frequently an attempt to justify the financial outlay of paying for sex on the basis it is a cheaper option, when the calculation is both extremely complex and not really comparable .. as some have pointed out.

No disrespect, but if you get bored with people after a very short period of time, then it perhaps says more about yourself than others?

[Doc Holliday]

Exactly, even if you just look on it as a financial transaction,the op is based on the O/H sitting at home,nowdays women can earn as much as men,sometimes more.If I took out all the costs which I would have to pay for anyway I doubt the O/H costs as much as £1000 per month,not to mention the great joy of children or grand children.

Indeed whenever this topic comes up there is always the assumption that women make no contribution to the overall relationship especially financial.

Grandchildren especially are a joy 

[The0neAnd0nly]

Agree with Doc Holliday. I've been in several long term relationships including living together that have cleared me out financially and mentally however I wouldnt say I regret them and that I wouldnt put myself in that position again.

End of day horses for courses and all that and some people want to avoid marriage whilst others see it as that commitment etc. However it's always easy to naysay the benefits of a long lasting and loving relationship when it ends badly.

[Re]

If you have to go through a divorce with a wife that has never been working then even having weekly prostitutes is miles cheaper 

[Hobbit]

99% really? My experience of marriage both my own and others differs widely to that. This topic is always heavily skewed on a punting forums.

There is frequently an attempt to justify the financial outlay of paying for sex on the basis it is a cheaper option, when the calculation is both extremely complex and not really comparable .. as some have pointed out.

99% yes because it is subjective. It's 99% of people that I've spoken to and met. You see, many people in this world paint a fantasy and are not honest to say the truth about what's really going on in their relationships until things go seriously tits up.

No disrespect, but if you get bored with people after a very short period of time, then it perhaps says more about yourself than others?

You are right, it is about me because I value intelligence and I'm very selective on who I can have long-term relationships with. Like I said, after a few days either I get bored with them or they start pissing me off.

I have great respect for people that have been happily married for several years. I don't know how you do it but I salute you all! 

[Hobbit]

Agree with Doc Holliday. I've been in several long term relationships including living together that have cleared me out financially and mentally however I wouldnt say I regret them and that I wouldnt put myself in that position again.

End of day horses for courses and all that and some people want to avoid marriage whilst others see it as that commitment etc. However it's always easy to naysay the benefits of a long lasting and loving relationship when it ends badly.

Isn't that a paradox or hypocritical? On one hand, you say, you don't regret them but on another hand, you say you wouldn't put yourself in that position again. Why not just be honest and say it like it is?

[The0neAnd0nly]

Isn't that a paradox or hypocritical? On one hand, you say, you don't regret them but on another hand, you say you wouldn't put yourself in that position again. Why not just be honest and say it like it is?

Calm down my hairy footed halfling. Change the and to or and it makes sense.

I've been in several long term relationships including living together that have cleared me out financially and mentally however I wouldnt say I regret them OR that I wouldnt put myself in that position again.

[Hobbit]

Calm down my hairy footed halfling. Change the and to or and it makes sense.

I've been in several long term relationships including living together that have cleared me out financially and mentally however I wouldnt say I regret them OR that I wouldnt put myself in that position again.

Are you backtracking because it was a syntax error or because you are afraid of breaking the status quo?

I find a lot of people in this world are afraid of challenging the status quo because they are afraid of not fitting in and therefore just accept or follow others like lemmings.

[The0neAnd0nly]

Are you backtracking because it was a syntax error or because you are afraid of breaking the status quo?

I find a lot of people in this world are afraid of challenging the status quo because they are afraid of not fitting in and therefore just accept or follow others like lemmings.

Ok 

[Hobbit]

Ok 

I guess there's my answer. 

[Mr_Shins]

Yoy got a link to that site ?

There was a topic on the subject and another one on Secret Benefits and a few on seeking.com, although they all pose as sugar-daddy/babe dating sites, whatsyourprice more as a general dating site.

[Mr_Shins]

If you have to go through a divorce with a wife that has never been working then even having weekly prostitutes is miles cheaper 

For a period of time when going through divorce I had to pay her £1350 a month, for which I could have punted 9 times at £150 an hour, so twice a week.

[Hobbit]

For a period of time when going through divorce I had to pay her £1350 a month, for which I could have punted 9 times at £150 an hour, so twice a week.

That's a lot of money dude.

[Lou2019]

That’s a load of bollocks not all women are hard faced creatures and men can just be as bad as women

This  most of us are lovely 

[Doc Holliday]

I have great respect for people that have been happily married for several years. I don't know how you do it but I salute you all! 

Thanks from the tiny 1% of the population that have been happily married. 

This is going to sound condescending but is sincere. It seems unlikely from your posts that you will form a loving and lasting relationship with someone? That is a shame because such a relationship, even though it may not last forever, can bring great joy and happiness, especially as a family. It may require hard work from both parties at times, not to mention tolerance of each others imperfections, but to not have experienced such a relationship in your life would be sad.

In addition paid for sex will never come close to sex that can be achieved in a loving relationship.

[finn5555]

Gets back to the old conversation that pro$$ies are not good girlfriend material as vast majority have issues.

Then again maybe punters don’t make good boyfriend material 😂😂😂

[Mr_Shins]

Gets back to the old conversation that pro$$ies are not good girlfriend material as vast majority have issues.

Then again maybe punters don’t make good boyfriend material 😂😂😂

I was discussing it with one of my favourite escorts last time I visited - I discuss my dating life with her. I told her that she and I would never work, not because she's an escort, I could live with that, but all the other differences and my demands... However it didn't mean we couldn't go out on a date occasionally, and I'd even pay a reasonable "social rate" for it.

Actually the rate I'd probably be willing to pay is £250, for however long the social aspect lasts plus a happy ending. I have done that before.

[Lou2019]

Gets back to the old conversation that pro$$ies are not good girlfriend material as vast majority have issues.

Then again maybe punters don’t make good boyfriend material 😂😂😂

That tired old and very boring conversation yawn

[finn5555]

That tired old and very boring conversation yawn

Maybe 🤔 but facts are facts Lou 

[Lou2019]

Maybe 🤔 but facts are facts Lou 

You clearly have had a bad experience, and a subject that has been done to death

[finn5555]

You clearly have had a bad experience

Not at all 

[Lou2019]

Not at all 

Or just being antagonistic  we are still just normal women at the end of the day doing what could be considered an unconventional job. You get good and bad in every walks of life.
I would say further it’s not facts as you say but mearly a narrow minded opinion   

[finn5555]

Or just being antagonistic  we are still just normal women at the end of the day doing what could be considered an unconventional job. You get good and bad in every walks of life.
I would say further it’s not facts as you say but mearly a narrow minded opinion 

Lou, I’m not getting into a debate with you as futile, you have your opinion I have mine let’s leave it there 👍🏻

[Thephoenix]

Oh no!.......here we go again!

Let's just agree to disagree.. we're all different.
Bringing our views from different places, relationships and experiences.

However the comments about 99% of failed marriages just says more about that person's circle of acquaintances rather than the real world.
Likewise the inability to maintain any kind of long term relationship may require some introspection as to the reason, and as explained may just mean that individual is better suited to living alone and not needing a relationship.

I have a fairly large family and one of my daughter's has had 2 failed marriages, lots of long term and short term relationships, until finally concluding she's happier by herself.
I recall discussing the reasons for her relationship 'failures' and pointing out the common denominator was herself.

As Mr Bonker, one of our esteemed forum philosophers pointed our on the subject about a thousand posts ago
......"It depends."

[Hobbit]

Thanks from the tiny 1% of the population that have been happily married. 

This is going to sound condescending but is sincere. It seems unlikely from your posts that you will form a loving and lasting relationship with someone? That is a shame because such a relationship, even though it may not last forever, can bring great joy and happiness, especially as a family. It may require hard work from both parties at times, not to mention tolerance of each others imperfections, but to not have experienced such a relationship in your life would be sad.

In addition paid for sex will never come close to sex that can be achieved in a loving relationship.

Nah, it takes a lot to piss me off.  I fully agree with you that relationships are difficult to maintain and require hard work and tolerance from both sides. However, a lot of women and men don't have that mentality nowadays and do not work hard enough to maintain those relationships. I call them "the fast-food generation".

I may or may not form a loving relationship, it requires hard work as you said and most of the women I have encountered do not have that patience or mentality. I'm not too sure how old you are but I presume you are probably over 60 and therefore come from an older generation that valued marriage and hard work. Those ethics, values, and commitment to maintaining a marriage are rare to find in the modern generation of people. You just have to switch on the TV or read the newspapers to see how the divorce rates have gone up over the years which proves my point to some degree.

In terms of sex with a wife and a hooker, yes, it is completely different and I can imagine that with a loving partner it must feel blissful. However, if you ask many married men how often do they currently have sex with their wives many would say very rarely. The evidence is there on many threads on this forum where people have mentioned this and some have mentioned that they don't get it at all. Hence, why a lot of married punters are seeing hookers regularly. If they were truly happy with their wives in the sex department then they wouldn't be seeing hookers. I am not condoning anyone for doing so, I myself have my own reasons for seeing prostitutes and there is nothing wrong with it. The point I'm trying to make is that the picture that you are trying to paint of a loving fulfilling marriage is a very old picture and does not hang on the wall of this modern world anymore. 

[Hobbit]

Deleted

[LLPunting]

...

In addition paid for sex will never come close to sex that can be achieved in a loving relationship.

Perhaps a bit too subjective.  I've had more "great" sex with SPs involving more variety with convincing engagement and passion than I have with former partners, so "mechanically" speaking I have to disagree, the edge for partners is whatever enhancement one associates with or derives from your feelings of "love" toward them and the reciprocation you perceive in their actions towards you.  These can be highly fulfilling but truly distilling them out over time from any lesser attachment you might have with an SP, FWB or affair is both difficult and subject to the person's awareness of themselves and unless this is matched with a compatible taste and drive in sex the result of the equation won't likely be that elevated.

[Cheltclient]

My view on this is that the different sides are not really comparable. Of course I can only really speak for myself but for me, I can’t really see how a ‘marriage’ would sit next to ‘punting’ as a similar activity. Yes, if you get divorced it’s going to be a hell of a lot more expensive than seeing options but I think you get range of completely different things out of each avenue. When I book an escort, it’s for sex. It’s not for closeness or chat (albeit a good GFE is always welcome). It’s a transaction with a time limit. When I was married, it wasn’t only sex I got out of it. It was companionship and having adventures, having someone to share life with, including the stresses. And I was not financially dominant - we shared a lot. So although my divorce was costly, I never thought ‘oh I wished I had spent half of that outlay on escorts instead’. Because I wouldn’t have got 99% of the things I got from my marriage from an escort. In essence, I guess what I’m saying is that it seems an escort booking is all about sex, a marriage isn’t, so it’s hard to consider which one is the better option as the output from the effort is very different.

A question that seems more relevant is whether booking escorts is better than dating. I tried a lot of dating and spent a lot of money chatting and dating women that didn’t go anywhere. I wasn’t just in it for sex but didn’t get anything other than a hole in my bank balance. Most of it was online dating and it’s a nightmare. So at the moment, I prefer to see a lovely escort and have great sex than fuck around dating and getting nothing. In that context, there’s a good argument towards escorts. I’d take a full time relationship with someone lovely over booking escorts any day of the week and happily give up (regardless of how costly splits can be) but the dating and the cost, escorts work for me.

I do appreciate the issue there - you can’t get serious without the dating - just no one has been interested so given up on that side of things.

[SoapyTW]

Why not get the best/worst of both worlds and marry a hooker?

I'd been in a long term relationship until Covid made us both realise how important the being apart time was in a relationship. We split up amicably with no complications such as houses/kids/divorce to worry about, but I've come to realise as much as I love spending time with other people, I need my own space. Pay for play all the way for me from now on. Do I worry about growing old alone? Nope. I'm gonna fucking enjoy myself.

EDIT: haha - I just re read that and realised it sounded like I married a hooker rather than my attempt to stir things up. Never mind. I'll leave it here as a reminder that if I do marry, I might as well fuck myself over completely and marry a full on mental one.

[alabama1]

No. It is just based on so many stories I have heard from many people about being married. 99% of people that I have encountered have all regretted it. Some have lost large amounts of income, property, children, and even their pets.

So for me, it's a fantasy that I certainly don't want, and a lot of people, mostly women want to get married because of status or the ideology of it. Who doesn't want to be a bride? 

Generally, I find people quite boring too, and after a few days, they tend to start pissing me off. I have only met 2 women in my life that have really caught my attention and enjoyed having conversations with them. Most are boring like shit.

I have told you a million times, stop exaggerating ! 

[Hobbit]

I have told you a million times, stop exaggerating ! 

External Link/Members Only

[Doc Holliday]

Perhaps a bit too subjective.  I've had more "great" sex with SPs involving more variety with convincing engagement and passion than I have with former partners, so "mechanically" speaking I have to disagree, the edge for partners is whatever enhancement one associates with or derives from your feelings of "love" toward them and the reciprocation you perceive in their actions towards you.  These can be highly fulfilling but truly distilling them out over time from any lesser attachment you might have with an SP, FWB or affair is both difficult and subject to the person's awareness of themselves and unless this is matched with a compatible taste and drive in sex the result of the equation won't likely be that elevated.

Agreed, my statement was too simplistic of something that is a very complex and indeed subjective. I should also have emphasised that the sex within a relationship has the 'potential to be the best', not least, of course, because one half actually wants to enjoy sex with you rather than being paid to give the illusion of such.

That potential may not be realised, in particular if both partners are not interested in each others 'mutual' pleasure. It is something that has to be worked on and developed. I agree good sex can be purely mechanical in nature and 'Love' is not necessarily a requirement to achieve good sex, but adds an extra dimension which can take it to another level again.

I would argue that if that potential is not reached and it is of high importance to either or both partners, then that relationship is better terminated, as it will likely fail at some point and probably sooner rather than later.

[Doc Holliday]

I presume you are probably over 60 and therefore come from an older generation that valued marriage and hard work. Those ethics, values, and commitment to maintaining a marriage are rare to find in the modern generation of people. You just have to switch on the TV or read the newspapers to see how the divorce rates have gone up over the years which proves my point to some degree.

The data on divorces shows it has actually gone down over the last two decades, but this is distorted by the number of marriages also going down. I am late sixties now but married during the late seventies when divorces were at the highest rates. The generational thing you mentioned applied more to those married during the fifties and earlier when divorce was much more difficult anyway.

In terms of sex with a wife and a hooker, yes, it is completely different and I can imagine that with a loving partner it must feel blissful. However, if you ask many married men how often do they currently have sex with their wives many would say very rarely. The evidence is there on many threads on this forum where people have mentioned this and some have mentioned that they don't get it at all. Hence, why a lot of married punters are seeing hookers regularly.

Yes but you get a very distorted view on a punting forum. Many punters on here are indeed married, but that is a tiny proportion of the total number of married men in the UK. Some marriages are sexless because the male has lost interest, but you won't find those men punting. Some marriages are sexless by mutual consent and thrive. Many marriages thrive on an acceptable level of sex to suit both parties. That can still be a high level. You won't hear much about those on a punting forum because those males will not be members.

Finally breakdown of the sexual relationship is not the main reason marriages fail.


Hidden Image/Members Only

[Hobbit]

The data on divorces shows it has actually gone down over the last two decades, but this is distorted by the number of marriages also going down. I am late sixties now but married during the late seventies when divorces were at the highest rates. The generational thing you mentioned applied more to those married during the fifties and earlier when divorce was much more difficult anyway.

Yes but you get a very distorted view on a punting forum. Many punters on here are indeed married, but that is a tiny proportion of the total number of married men in the UK. Some marriages are sexless because the male has lost interest, but you won't find those men punting. Some marriages are sexless by mutual consent and thrive. Many marriages thrive on an acceptable level of sex to suit both parties. That can still be a high level. You won't hear much about those on a punting forum because those males will not be members.

Finally breakdown of the sexual relationship is not the main reason marriages fail.


Hidden Image/Members Only

Thank you for the insight. For a second I thought I was talking to Chris Whitty as this was getting too scientific.

I agree mostly with what you are saying and sex is not always a reason why marriages fail. Usually, it is a lack of communication, transparency, breakdown of trust, expectations, and change of goals and common interests, and more. That is only taking into consideration love marriages and not arranged or forced marriages which are also a high number in the world. Don't get me started on those because most of them definitely don't work!

With regards to your graph showing marriages and divorce rates. It does show divorce rates have gone down but it also shows that marriages have also plummeted. So clearly we are heading toward a polygamous culture.

[Doc Holliday]

For a second I thought I was talking to Chris Whitty as this was getting too scientific.

I have more hair than him ... just! 

Marriage trends are also interesting with a continual decline.

External Link/Members Only

The average age of a marriage is now between 35 and 40 for heterosexual couples. The era of marrying young, has long since gone replaced with cohabiting.

Interestingly the only age group showing an increase in marriage is the over 65s. Companionship in our twilight years will always be a consideration ... perhaps with a little sex thrown in also? 

[Hobbit]

Companionship in our twilight years will always be a consideration ... perhaps with a little sex thrown in also? 

I think sex will be very little in the twilight years. Not everyone can take things like Viagra. For me, intimacy is extremely important in a relationship and if I was to ever get married then I could not imagine it without some kind of sexual intimacy.

I know the desire remains but if the body doesn't follow then what do you do? Many women can manage without sex or replace that with a different form of intimacy..... for them it is shopping.  But for us mere mortal men sex is a vital part of our lives. I know many people talk about love but what they are referring to is still lust. I don't believe anyone has experienced true love in this world and never will.

[Thephoenix]

I think sex will be very little in the twilight years. Not everyone can take things like Viagra. For me, intimacy is extremely important in a relationship and if I was to ever get married then I could not imagine it without some kind of sexual intimacy.

I know the desire remains but if the body doesn't follow then what do you do? Many women can manage without sex or replace that with a different form of intimacy..... for them it is shopping.  But for us mere mortal men sex is a vital part of our lives. I know many people talk about love but what they are referring to is still lust. I don't believe anyone has experienced true love in this world and never will.

Intimacy is very important in a relationship, but it doesn't have to be sexual intimacy.
... Oxford Dictionary... Intimacy = close familiarity or friendship, eg "the intimacy between husband and wife."
Sex is a vital part of our lives until it isn't.
When you've finally got no more lead in your pencil, intimacy can still be maintained, and that is apparent in many elderly couples.

Maybe some people you talk to get mixed up between love and lust.
Believe me they're different, but can equally work together.

I guess we all have our own interpretation of love, or as you say, true love.

There's a thread about blokes loving their dogs. As far as I know, they're not fucking them.
Likewise with children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Love can sometimes start off as lust, infatuation, some romantic ideal, particularly when young, then over decades can change to something else which is almost unexplainable to others who haven't experienced it.