I always wonder why the sense of bitterness I sense in a lot of these types of posts, and I believe it comes from false expectations.
"Get a girlfriend" they say, as if this is some sort of amazing wisdom. Well, I have only met one woman in the trade that seriously promised a 'real' relationship, and she was also seriously screwed up. I've never come across another woman, good or bad at her job, that promised anything more than short term companionship in return for money.
That is, after all, what this business is about. If you are looking to have a welcome home, a house that isn't empty, a loving caring relationship based on trust and respect... well you won't find it by going to SP's. Nor will it fix unhappiness with your life, any more than climbing into a bottle will.
But, sad fact is, finding that girlfriend isn't always easy. And expecting a man to go without any sort of female contact for who knows how long, is I think a cruel and unrealistic expectation of society. And that, for me is where a good SP comes in. Not to give me a real relationship, not to drown my troubles in a sea of sex.... but to keep me sane while I get on with my life and look for the "real thing".
To criticize the SP's, or even the trade itself, is akin to criticizing taxi cabs because they aren't a substitute for owning your own car. They were never meant to be, and serve completely different roles.
So by all means "retire" if you no longer feel the need or desire to see an SP. Be happy, and be glad you don't need a taxi, because you've found your own means of transport. But don't be bitter because you had false expectations of what an SP could do for you