I quit cold turkey in March of ‘86.
The company I worked for provided me a new Chevy Caprice.
It smelled so good, I couldn’t bring myself to smoke in it, so I quit.
I suspect I am going to get flamed for post this but here goes:
Overall, I would say that my relationship with tobacco has been much more fulfilling than whatever I “enjoyed” with any of the women I dated over the years.
At least my briar and corncob pipes never nag me, even while expecting me to pick up the check.
I have never smoked cigarettes, but I have been a pipe and occasional cigar smoker since I was in college.
Today, I’m 59, semi-retired in decent health. I have accumulated a lovely collection of pipes over the years and I enjoy them maybe every other day.
I never get nicotine cravings, nor do I rely on tobacco for stress relief.
Case in point: I quit entirely for about six months before and after the election, which I’m sure we will all agree was an incredibly stressful time for patriots and conservatives.
I suspect I quit because I associate tobacco with comfort and relaxation, which were certainly in short supply with the threat of a Hitlery administration looming.
Finally, around late March, I finally felt an appetite for a cigar, then a pipe. Now, I continue to indulge in moderation.
Generally, I’ve found that a little tobacco helps enhance a good mood and generally helps me think. A cigar after a heavy meal is a wonderful treat.
So, my experiences with tobacco couldn’t be more different than those of cigarette smokers. I have heard much the same from other pipe and cigar smokers.
The one word we rarely hear in the ongoing tobacco debate is “moderation.”