I don’t remember how it started or why I thought to start doing it, but I most certainly probably started with fingers sometime in my teens, probably around 15 or 16. In my teens I used celery, hot dogs (hard to get in, do not recommend), carrots, tooth brushes (the non bristled end), and probably more.
After leaving home, I once created a dildo out of a sick of wood. It was only slightly resembling the original. I was worried about the wood absorbing and keeping material, and I intended to use it more than once for awhile, so I would cover it with a bike tube and somehow close off the end that was inserted. It actually worked reasonably well, and aside from the slanted portion and with the rubber removed, it could be hidden in plain sight without someone figuring out what I was using it for.
I didn’t do too much in college, though I remember using a (empty) beer bottle once — I didn’t get more than the neck in so it wasn’t really good.
While dating, my now wife and I went to an adult store and got a vibrating dildo for her to play with. We used it once, and it wasn’t really our thing, so we never used it again. (We also got a set of 3 cock rings that was enjoyable, but they broke fairly easy. And the red thong I wear on cam, that is a fan favorite, was bought at the same time.) Somehow though (maybe I ordered it online?), I acquired a 7″ dildo and would use that on me for years. I slowly lost interest, and eventually threw it out for fear of getting caught. Back to fingers only, but I didn’t do much for the longest time.
A few years ago I became interested and decided on an insertable vibration that wrap around with a cock ring and has a “ball cup.” It’s fun, but oddly the ball cup is my favorite part. The insert and vibration are fun for a few minutes, but it’s not really great.
But with my recent awaking or acceptance, I was interested again. During a key opportunity, I went to an adult store by myself and bought another 7″ dildo, the one you may see on cam, that has a suction cup — a key feature I wanted so I could suction it on the floor or shower wall, for example, and not have to have my hand there and angling my body which gets achy after awhile. I’ve used it both ways. The floor is hard because of needing to squat so much. If I could suction it onto something a foot off the ground, but it’s still firmly attached to the ground, that may be ideal. The shower was fun, but standing sex isn’t great in my opinion, and being the one needing to pump while standing was difficult. Maybe I’ll figure something out someday.
Finally, while we’re on the topic of toys, I also bought a Fleshlight Quickshot, which is pretty fun. I don’t last long with it, so it’s good stamina building. It easy to clean as well. Of all the toys I’ve had at this point, I recommend this.