Lily and Lucy charge more than their contemporaries in C-Town but they always deliver 2 cups, no-rush and excellent service. Plus, they are fairly attractive MILFs, with pleasant, no hassle personalities. When you compare with midtown, they are the best value in the city in my view. Lily is somewhere between 48-54, it's conceivable that she's been in the biz for 27 years, though I doubt that it was either a consistent, contiguous 27 years and/or entirely here in NYC.
I've known a number of these gals personally through the years (including living with two of them -- not at the same time). The length of time and purpose for getting into or staying in it varies. Some get in for a G-card and are able to get out after they achieve that goal. Others stay indefinitely, though once their looks fade totally, they will usually stay in as a mamasan/phone gal or an on-premises "momo" as the Koreans say. C-gals will be active on the receiving end of things for longer than K-gals who usually transition to mamasan-hood/ownership/recruitment part of the business once they hit 40-45. Many view the biz as a "young gal's sport" and will retire despite still managing to look good. (If you know a lot of traditionally-minded Korean women over 45, it is rare that they will have hair longer than their shoulders. On the other hand, many Chinese grandmas who look it, will keep long hair as a matter of course).
I've been seeing Lily since 2012 or so and have come to know her a bit. I have an alternative situation with her at another UTR location that allows more intimacy and comfort and have managed to speak with her at length about various random things and about the biz generally. She did not offer nor did I ask "why" she was in the biz, but I'd say that in all likelihood, she got in for the usual reason(s) and found the money too good to give up. My guess is that she's saving for opening up a business with a passive income stream, e.g., buying an apartment building. I suspect that she'll likely work in the biz for another 3-5 years before retiring from "active" duty.