G'day everyone,
I'm Mr Crumpets - a single male in his early 40s from Melbourne, Australia.
I stumbled across this forum two nights ago when doing my research on buying a sex doll. I was keen and eager to buy one 'in stock' locally, so I didn't have to wait long for a custom made one from the factory. I saw (the site I eventually went with) was very professional, but also cost quite a bit. I did see significantly cheaper prices on other sites that claimed to be local, but thanks to the tips/research you guys have provided, I avoided them and went with a TDF trusted vendor.
Today, I finally hit the purchase button on an 'in stock' WM 166C with 273 head (promoted on their site as Sonya X) from Sex Dolls Australia. I'll post a review in their sub-forum here once the doll arrives and settles in.
To be honest, I never imagined myself purchasing a doll like this. Sure, I've had fun a couple of times with an inflatable doll, but more just as a disposable once off - although the latest one (and I read somewhere else someone explain the same), I got two months ago, just to have 'company' to sleep next too - not really for the sex part... also cause the holes are way off, such as the vagina near the belly button and the anus near the kidneys!!
Part of that last bit was coming from a bad break up in real life. I had been single for 9 years, met a woman last year who want to have a kid, I did too, but in the 4 months together it felt like all she wanted me for is to produce the kid and we didn't see the small things eye-to-eye. We had trouble sleeping together - intimacy wasn't in-sync, I'm a shift worker and work odd hours while she was an earlier riser, plus I snored and she was a light sleeper (so she would always wake me up to complain... then she would sleep easy and I'd stay awake paranoid of waking her).
I remember waking up on the day we essentially broke up (the break-up really lasted about 2 weeks) thinking to myself "I don't want to do this anymore, I want my independence back" - let me tell you, internally it really is an earth-shattering moment when you realise that after years of wanting to find someone to marry and have a family with, that it's no you anymore and you want your freedom - In fact, I had come up with this phrase in my head "I like being alone, but hate being lonely".
As I type, I question to myself "is it a mid-life crisis"? It's a fair question, considering I've just spent nearly $3,000 AUD on a real life sex doll - maybe this is my version of buying a fancy sports car at this age
But in truth, I'm excited about what I'll dress her in and that first moment of holding her as I sleep. Plus the photos Andrew from SDA sent me of her head with different wigs (especially with the curly hair), just left me in a state of "WOW" 
I don't know how often I'll post in the forum, but I do know (to be posted in other threads) I'll have a lot of questions, such as the correct (Australian) size clothes and lingerie to buy her, the correct size shoes, how to fix in place her hair and to maintain it - an importantly, where to get the best curly ginger haired wigs (Yes, I'm a redheads man!)?
Then there's what to do if I stuff up - such as the make-up (never done that in my life) or if I do freckles and get that wrong. It even came across my mind (and I'm sure some members would gasp) that if this doll didn't feel right for me or the novelty had worn off, how to correctly dispose of the doll (wouldn't want to just throw limbs in a bin!).
Anyway, apologies for the wall of text you've all had to read. Just a nervous newbie, who bought a doll today, and is now waiting for that call/text/email from SDA tomorrow on when they'll be dropping her around (reminds me - I seriously need to clean up my apartment!).
Mr Crumpets.
Congrats for freeing yourself and try something very different! 
Yeah, luck with women (or men) isn´t always on our side and sooner or later we start looking for "alternatives". The more if we´re getting older (no matter if we´re male or female), know exactly what we want (and what not), but still would like to enjoy some company. 
In fact rarely felt better than when I´s in my 30ies maybe. Additionally my doll(s) brought me more relaxation, both mentally and physically as well as a clear focus on how I like to spend my life in years to come. Having another relationship with women not excluded. But I´m not a family/kids guy and never was. So I´m fairly relaxed on that and now focus on my personal interests and (time consuming) hobbies more than I could ever before 2019. 
and congrats for the new girl! 
