Growley
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- Apr 10, 2012
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I was just replying to Jesse's thread: Smoking, a dirty habit..., when I realized my reply was going off topic. So, I decided to post this question here and start a new topic rather than diluting his.
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I see pipe smoking as a treat, an event, not to be abused or over enjoyed...like eating too much cheesecake or something. There's something fine, classic and classy about it, yet it's very down to earth, very thought provoking and very calming. I don't want these wonderful facets of pipe smoking to lose their luster for me.
In fact, lately I've realized that I've been smoking more frequently (once a day for the last week), and I've actually seen the enjoyment factor decline. I'm not "taking the time to smoke", I'm "fitting smoking in". I've been non-event smoking:fpalm: . That's not what I want pipe smoking to be about for me. I want to always work to keep pipe smoking about taking the time to smoke, and not just fitting it in.
That's what I used to love about cigars. I didn't mind paying $10 for a cigar, because I knew it was going to be an event, I knew it was something I was going to actually plan out. For me, I never liked to smoke half a cigar, put it away and come back to it later. That meant that if I was lighting a cigar up, I had already planned for at least an hour of uninterrupted smoking enjoyment. I spent the money, I was going to make the most of it, like an investment.
However, since I've been smoking pipes, I almost rarely ever have a cigar. I just prefer pipes these days. But, I've found I actually have to fight to keep the same mindset of planning a time to enjoy my pipe. Seeing that a pipe holds much less tobacco, I don't feel as guilty about smoking only half way through. The financial commitment isn't as strong for me, and neither is the guilt I guess. So in a bad way, I find it easier to not plan, light a pipe, and see how far I can get through it before something more pressing calls me away, and that's not what I want pipe smoking to be for me.
I love the ceremony of walking into my closet and pondering the various blends of tobacco I have, and pairing one to my current mood, or even the mood I want to soon be in, followed only by selecting the perfect pipe. Will this be a lean back in my porch swing, hands off, clenching my pipe session, or will it be a sitting at the table, where my pipe never leaves my hand session? It all makes a difference to me.
So to answer my own question, I smoke pipe to take time to think about life, evaluate, to decompress, to spend with friends in good conversation, to think of nothing at all, to contemplate, to pray, to work through emotions, to enjoy. I want to make the most of it. I want to look forward to it. I want to explore different blends, tastes, preparation and packing. I want it to be a special event, a time tucked away in my life that adds to my existence here.
**************************************************************************************************************************
I see pipe smoking as a treat, an event, not to be abused or over enjoyed...like eating too much cheesecake or something. There's something fine, classic and classy about it, yet it's very down to earth, very thought provoking and very calming. I don't want these wonderful facets of pipe smoking to lose their luster for me.
In fact, lately I've realized that I've been smoking more frequently (once a day for the last week), and I've actually seen the enjoyment factor decline. I'm not "taking the time to smoke", I'm "fitting smoking in". I've been non-event smoking:fpalm: . That's not what I want pipe smoking to be about for me. I want to always work to keep pipe smoking about taking the time to smoke, and not just fitting it in.
That's what I used to love about cigars. I didn't mind paying $10 for a cigar, because I knew it was going to be an event, I knew it was something I was going to actually plan out. For me, I never liked to smoke half a cigar, put it away and come back to it later. That meant that if I was lighting a cigar up, I had already planned for at least an hour of uninterrupted smoking enjoyment. I spent the money, I was going to make the most of it, like an investment.
However, since I've been smoking pipes, I almost rarely ever have a cigar. I just prefer pipes these days. But, I've found I actually have to fight to keep the same mindset of planning a time to enjoy my pipe. Seeing that a pipe holds much less tobacco, I don't feel as guilty about smoking only half way through. The financial commitment isn't as strong for me, and neither is the guilt I guess. So in a bad way, I find it easier to not plan, light a pipe, and see how far I can get through it before something more pressing calls me away, and that's not what I want pipe smoking to be for me.
I love the ceremony of walking into my closet and pondering the various blends of tobacco I have, and pairing one to my current mood, or even the mood I want to soon be in, followed only by selecting the perfect pipe. Will this be a lean back in my porch swing, hands off, clenching my pipe session, or will it be a sitting at the table, where my pipe never leaves my hand session? It all makes a difference to me.
So to answer my own question, I smoke pipe to take time to think about life, evaluate, to decompress, to spend with friends in good conversation, to think of nothing at all, to contemplate, to pray, to work through emotions, to enjoy. I want to make the most of it. I want to look forward to it. I want to explore different blends, tastes, preparation and packing. I want it to be a special event, a time tucked away in my life that adds to my existence here.
