Do you smoke?

[CurlySue]

Neither my FI nor I smoke.

I first tried smoking when I was in high school and was what I referred to as a "social smoker" in college. By "social smoker," I mean that when my friends and I would go out to parties or bars, we'd have a cigarette or two towards the end of the night b/c we felt it helped us keep our buzz a little longer. We never bought cigarettes, we always bummed them off people.

After college, I never did this too much, though when I was in grad school (I attended about 5 years after I graduated from college) I'd have a cigarette once every three months or so if the opportunity presented itself.

Nowadays, cigarette smoke makes me sneeze and it bothers me. I do love the smell of cigars, for some reason.

 

[sctsbride09]

I do not smoke, nor does my husband. I actually used to smoke for about 9 years, and I loved it! But now that I quit (its been 3 years I think) I cant imagine going back.

 

[purselover]

No I don't smoke anything, once in a blue moon (maybe once a year) DH will smoke a cigar.

ETA: oddly I love the smell of cigarettes but was never tempted to start the habit

ETA2: never answered the follow up question - I tried cigarettes once or twice when I was think around 17/18. I tried it just to try it, I never had the intention of doing it regularly and I never did it again after that. I've never smoked any other substance and don't intend to.

 

[BeachRunner]

I smoked my first cigarette when I was maybe 15? I was at a friend’s house and her parents smoked, so we took their cigarettes. I smoked socially in college, and I haven’t touched a cigarette in YEARS (prob around 6 yrs). I don’t like the smell or cigarette smoke, but am around it during summer festivals and shows. My DH does not smoke either, but also smoked socially when he was younger.

None of my family smokes. DH’s mother, 2 brothers, and sister-in-law smoke.

I think that the number of smokers has decreased over the yrs. When I was in college, EVERYONE smoked. I work with about 40 other people, and two people smoke. I’ve also noticed a huge decline in smokers moving from WV to CO, which isn’t a surprise as WV is one of the unhealthiest states and CO is one of the healthiest. I thoroughly enjoy going out for a drink at a bar and coming home not smelling like smoke. It’s so wonderful!

 

[swingirl]

Date: 4/20/2010 1:51:04 AM
Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/19/2010 9:42:27 PM

Author: CharmyPoo

How come everyone is a non-smoker? Are all the smokers afraid to come out and admit it?

lol I smoke and am not ashamed of it.

Am working on quitting however, want to quit before i get married in a few months.

Did I hear right???? How exciting!

 

[Lula]

Date: 4/20/2010 10:58:11 AM
Author: swingirl

Date: 4/20/2010 1:51:04 AM

Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/19/2010 9:42:27 PM


Author: CharmyPoo


How come everyone is a non-smoker? Are all the smokers afraid to come out and admit it?

lol I smoke and am not ashamed of it.


Am working on quitting however, want to quit before i get married in a few months.

Did I hear right???? How exciting!

In my 20s, I tried smoking. I had a few beers, smoked 2 cigarettes, got sick, and never smoked again. Talk about aversion therapy! DH smokes an occasional cigar -- yeah, what is it about men and cigars. On second thought, no one answer that!

But on to more important news...Karl??!!??? This news deserves its own thread!

 

[asscherisme]

Very anti smoking and am doing my best to drum it into my kids heads as well.

 

[elrohwen]

I''ve smoked a few times - I think it was during college when I got back together with old HS friends. None of them were actually smokers, but a few liked to smoke while drinking, so they bought some cigarettes and I tried a few. Honestly, I didn''t inhale because I just couldn''t. Ick. None of us ever considered actually starting, but it was interesting to try it once. I got home and my mom made me get undressed in the basement, put my clothes straight into the washing machine, and get in the shower. Lol. She was pissed, but I was 21 so what was she gonna say? And she knew I would never ever do it regularly.

 

[Haven]

Neither DH nor I smoke, and we''ve never been smokers.

The only time I ever tried a cigarette was one night during my freshman year of college. It was a Benson & Hedges menthol, and I was very drunk. I woke up feeling horrible the next morning. It was my first and last experience with cigarettes.

My mother smoked until she found out she was pregnant with me. She quit that day. Her mother had been smoking for decades at that point, and when she saw my mom quit she said "If you can do it, I can do it" so she quit that day, as well.

Unfortunately, my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago. The pain she went through before she died was enough to make me hate and fear cigarettes. It was really horrendous, and I wouldn''t wish it on anyone.

 

[anchor31]

I''m vehemently anti-smoking as well. I''ve never tried and I would not date or marry someone who smoked. My dad used to smoke, but he never smoke heavily and never indoors or around us (looking forward to celebrating 10 years smoke-free on his 60th birthday on May 20th!

). My ILs don''t smoke (BIL used to, thankfully never indoors). We went to my SIL birthday party in January and one of the aunts smoked in the house... I was livid that the ILs were letting her smoke indoors with a 1-month-old infant in the house. I told DH that the next time this happened I would leave.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

I was raised with a mother who smoked (DH was too) and neither of us have ever been smokers. I think being raised around it ingrained the aversion in us. While I don''t find smoking attractive and probably wouldn''t be cool with a partner smoking, I don''t judge people for doing it. It''s a personal choice.

 

[princesss]

I dont'' smoke cigarettes, but I do enjoy lighting the hookah with my BF and friends and smoking that once in a blue moon. I do that maybe 3-6 times per year, but it''s very enjoyable.

BF used to be a smoker, but quit before we started dating because he knew that I refused to date a smoker. I''ve got heart problems, so being with a smoker was out of the question for me. He will light up the hookah a little more often than I will and enjoys the odd cigar every now and then, but that''s it.

I tried a cigarette once when I was 15 or 16 - thought it was the most disgusting thing ever. BUT it felt kind of good, which freaked me out, so I gave it back to my friend and never touched one again.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 4/20/2010 12:42:29 PM
Author: princesss
I dont'' smoke cigarettes, but I do enjoy lighting the hookah with my BF and friends and smoking that once in a blue moon. I do that maybe 3-6 times per year, but it''s very enjoyable.

We do this occasionally as well, what flavor tobacco do you like best? Our friend brought some over to try once that was strawberry flavored that I enjoy I can only have a little bit though or I get a tummy ache

 

[TooPatient]

I have never smoked and never will. My parents and other family members did -- most quit -- and I know that just being around the smoke makes it hard for me to breathe. (even outside in the open around people smoking, I have trouble breathing)

FI smoked cigarettes in Navy boot camp but quit when his training was done (some guy gave the smokers extra breaks during the day -- non-smokers had to keep doing physical stuff). After that, he smoked the occasional cigar up until a few years before I met him.

Our house is a strict no smoking house -- not even out with "the guys" for a cigar. The smell gets into everything and is enough to leave me coughing (and worse if it is bad).

 

[sunnyd]

Vehement non-smoker here. I''ve been on prescription inhalers twice in my life due to being around smoke, and it''s not something I want to have to do ever again!

DH was a pack a day smoker until he started dating me. He quit cold turkey because he knew that I wouldn''t date a smoker (smart man!). He says he misses it, and will occasionally have one, though he definitely hears about it from me afterward!

 

[radiantquest]

I have battled the smoking for a long time. I started smoking when I was 13, then smoked until about 25. I quit for over a year and then when we got married I started smoking again. It was all the emotions and stress. It was very easy to start up again. DH smoked and all my coworkers smoked. DH has since quit and I smoke still. Not much, but I do. I am working on quitting again. People can say what they want...I enjoy it. I can smoke a cig here and there and most times DH cant even tell. He does say something when he smells it, but I will not smoke around him. I am proud that he has quit and dont want to tempt him. I hear all the lectures, but I never cough, never am sick, have great lung power, etc. I also never thought cigarettes smelled bad when I quit. It didnt bother me one bit. It is not that I endorse smoking, I like it and will probably smoke a little while longer regardless.

 

[doodle]

My first cigarette was when I was 18 and druuuuunk, and I''ve smoked consistently since that first one. My whole family and group of friends is just about all smokers with the exception of a very small number. I smoke a couple of packs a week right now (down from over a pack a day), but I''ve only cut back on them because of the cost. DH has always been and will always be very anti-smoking, but I told him from day one that I wouldn''t quit for him because I have to do it for myself when I''m ready, and I don''t actually WANT to quit yet. Until then, I''ll happily enjoy my nicotine buzz, haha! Out of respect for DH, I only smoke outside and never in the car, so we''ve reached a place where we''re both cool with it. I will say that I''ve had several occasions where a non-smoker was obnoxiously rude to me for smoking (and this was in a designated smoking area on my college campus--as in, people would walk into the gazebo named "THE SMOKE SHACK" and would cough and wave their arms and gripe at the smokers

), and since I always try to be a respectful smoker and distance myself from non-smokers, a vigilante non-smoker following me around to cough at me is infuriating!

 

[bee*]

vehemently anti-smoking. Neither DH or myself smoke and there are no smokers in our extended families. In fact out of all our friends I can think of only one that smokes. I tried it once when I was 13 and took a puff on the cigarette and decided it was horrible and not for me. I wouldn''t date/marry a smoker. Total dealbreaker for me.

 

[yssie]

I try not to be rude around people smoking, but I probably cringe when I see it because I know unless I move right away I'll smell it in a few seconds. I must be honest: just because one takes a smoke break outside doesn't mean one leaves the smell there. The clothes smell of smoke, the breath smells of smoke, and the area around them smells of smoke - and it lingers. I go out of my way to avoid smokers because the smell makes me cough and sneeze.



Congratulations, Karl!!!

 

[isaku5]

Date: 4/20/2010 1:51:04 AM
Author: Karl_K

Date: 4/19/2010 9:42:27 PM
Author: CharmyPoo
How come everyone is a non-smoker? Are all the smokers afraid to come out and admit it?

lol I smoke and am not ashamed of it.
Am working on quitting however, want to quit before i get married in a few months.

Stop the presses and hold the phone!!!! Karl and Wifey2b are getting married in a few months!!!!

Congratulations!!

 

[LtlFirecracker]

Date: 4/19/2010 8:18:59 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 4/19/2010 7:55:34 PM

Author: HollyS

My parents smoked. My sisters and I grew up with it in our home, and not one of the three of us every lit up. We hated it then, and we hate it now.


But, remember, smokers were the norm when we grew up in the 50s - 70s. No one gave smoking a second thought, and since nearly everyone did it, you didn't really notice how the smell permeates everything.


Smoking is so infrequent in public places now, you are definitely not used to the stink of it. It seems even more offensive now by comparison.

yep, even for doctors.

Do a google search on doctors and smoking in the 50's.

 

[packrat]

Congratulations Karl!

And what''s a hookah?

 

[joflier]

I smoked a few times in my teens, and I have to be honest - I really liked it. But working in healthcare, I know how horrible it is. So no, I do not smoke.
And yay for Karl and Wifey2b! Exciting news!!!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Non smoker, as is Dh and everyone we know.

 

[Dandi]

I''ve never ever touched one and never will. DH hates it too, thank goodness! I couldn''t stand a smoke house!

A wonderful cardio-thoracic surgeon in our city is a heavy smoker... someone who removes diseased lungs and repairs damaged hearts for a living, knows the full, FULL effects, yet still does it. He just always has, all his family do too. His wife even passed away from lung cancer in her 40s last year, she herself a smoker.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 4/20/2010 8:40:31 PM
Author: LtlFirecracker

Date: 4/19/2010 8:18:59 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 4/19/2010 7:55:34 PM

Author: HollyS

My parents smoked. My sisters and I grew up with it in our home, and not one of the three of us every lit up. We hated it then, and we hate it now.


But, remember, smokers were the norm when we grew up in the 50s - 70s. No one gave smoking a second thought, and since nearly everyone did it, you didn''t really notice how the smell permeates everything.


Smoking is so infrequent in public places now, you are definitely not used to the stink of it. It seems even more offensive now by comparison.

yep, even for doctors.

Do a google search on doctors and smoking in the 50''s.

i still remember the TV commercial..."Winston taste good like a cigarette should"

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Date: 4/20/2010 4:18:28 AM
Author: Mrs Mitchell
Oh, how I loved to smoke. I love the smell of a freshly -lit cigarette. It was heavenly.

I don''t smoke anymore, because it was bad for me. Haven''t done for years now. When I get old or am diagnosed with a terminal illness, I''ll be smoking again.

DH has never smoked and did try to say he wouldn''t marry me if I didn''t stop. Ok, don''t marry me then. He got over it.

How I miss my cigarettes. They sort of punctuated the day. Nice to light up when a task is done, or for a few minutes procrastination before it has to begin. I''m quite nostalgic for the old smoking days.

LOL!!!!! Me too. When I die I want St. Peter to hand me a Salem Slim Light 100 at the gate. Until then I remain a non (ex) smoker.

 

[Imdanny]

No, I don''t smoke.

 

[justginger]

It seems like there are fewer smokers here than I would have expected.

No, I don''t smoke. Haven''t tried, never felt the desire - nor have any of my best friends from high school or college smoked. Guess I just was in the non-smoking crowd from a young age.

I am very anti-smoking. I simply don''t understand it, and I hope my opinions don''t offend those who do smoke. From my point of view, it''s something that has no pros, only many, many cons. I don''t have an addictive or dependent personality, so to me, smoking as a stress-coping mechanism seems weak. I''m sure this is untrue for many people, but since I can''t grasp motive, this is the only conclusion I can seem to come to. There''s nothing I love enough, that when presented with such appalling medical evidence, I would choose to continue doing. I love gardening, but my yard would be a jungle if weeding potentially gave me cancer. I love my dogs, but they''d be gone if they had contagious cancer. I have tanned in the past, but once I got to the age that I understood the potential repercussions, I never went without sunscreen and/or protective clothing again. I guess my self-preservation is well developed.

I have dated smokers, all have stopped during the duration of our time dating (with occasional drags here and there). Out of those 4 people, 3 of them are still non-smokers.

My fiance LOVED smoking. He smoked for about the first year we dated, though not a lot. He simply adored it, there''s no other way to describe it. The relaxation, the fellowship of smokers, the feeling, the smell, the taste -- everything. He sorely misses smoking, but thankfully had decided on his own that 30 was the age to quit. He didn''t want to be "an old smoker."

He still has a bit of a whinge about it from time to time, but knows it''s in his own best interests....like someone who looks longingly at a bacon double quarter pounder and continues choking down a grilled chicken salad.

I always say that I''d love to live in an entire non-smoking community. I''m hoping that will be a development of the near future!

 

[Erin]

Smoked half pack daily for 15 years. Quit January 12, 2010.