Anyone else recover from the cigar addiction?

[tchariya]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

Bowling is a good time and it's indoors (I'm pale and asthmatic), it's relatively cheap to play, the equipment is rather interesting, and there's some serious satisfaction I get when I throw a 16lb ball at a bunch of wooden pins.

It use to be in Illinois you could bowl and smoke cigars at the same time. Now that would seriously feed into some sort of addictive cycle.

[tzaddi]

Matt, how does Tim feel about this? Have you run it by him yet?

Does Tim bowl?

[goalie204]

I'm not sure if i'm addicted or not. I Started smoking one a month, then one a week, now one a day, sometimes 2 on a sat or sun. 7-9 a week.

I'm a compulsive person, in the past with cigarettes, with marijuana, with other hard drugs, all of which i've quit.

With cigars, i truly don't know if i'm addicted or if i just enjoy them as a hobby quite frequently. I'm not sure how to tell. It worries me because i don't want to be addicted. I do enjoy them when i smoke, and take my time and take pleasure, but i'm not sure

[rayray812]

Beat the addiction?
As far as cigars go, rehap is for quitters, just mho.

[mrreindeer]

Great thread....and I look forward to reading more responses...

Since I'm still relatively new to this whole thing, I find I'm 'attracted' (for fear of admitting addiction, that I have a problem, the first step...) to cigars, the accessories, the general hobby & of course, Club Stogie.

Starting up has concerned me because of health issues but they've been satisfied by/I've just come to terms with some helpful posts on here.

And I only smoke once or twice a week, if that. Right now. And I completely skipped last week and may this week because I'm so busy when I'm not at work (as, sigh, I am right now).

But even though I don't get the opportunity to enjoy a fine cigar more than once or twice a week, I do find that I'm addicted, er, attracted, to collecting (cigars & accessories), talking about it, blogging about it, and looking forward to the time when I'll get to smoke.

I do hope this 'attraction' subsides at least a little bit!

[audio1der]

I wish had time to focus on this hobby- I can't imagine trying to start over with a new one!

[nhlfan]

I have to say, I don't think that I'm addicted to SMOKING cigars, but I sure do love the collection, the hunting and researching, the accessories, maintaing the huimidor, etc. I don't smoke all that ofter, 3-4 a week maybe, and I don't ever find myself saying "Oh man, I need a cigar" like people do with cigarettes. I love smoking them, but I feel it's more of a relaxation type of thing rather than a physical need for it.

I too am a compulsive type when it comes to hobbies. I think it comes from my childhood, of never having the means to do things I wanted to do, and now that I have the financial means to do things, I'm going to do them. I do not, however, go all out at first until I'm sure I'm going to stick with it. For example, when I first started playing Rugby, I took a year and just went with the flow, now I own about 30 jerseys, shorts, boots, balls, etc. I collected comic books when I was younger and tried to get back into that, and it fizzled out within a few months, and I really hadn't spent any money doing that.

Now I pretty much have cigars, golf, rugby, skydiving, and lifting as hobbies. And that takes up PLENTY of my time, ask my wife!

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by nhlfan

I have to say, I don't think that I'm addicted to SMOKING cigars, but I sure do love the collection, the hunting and researching, the accessories, maintaing the huimidor, etc. I don't smoke all that ofter, 3-4 a week maybe, and I don't ever find myself saying "Oh man, I need a cigar" like people do with cigarettes. I love smoking them, but I feel it's more of a relaxation type of thing rather than a physical need for it.

Very good point; in addition to the hobby of it all, I'd say my 'addiction' is that anticipation for that relaxation time....so when I think to myself, man, I'd love to be able to light up a nice cigar....it's the combination of relaxation and being able to get something tasty (without all the nasty calories ) to enjoy over a good hour plus.

[Dom]

I feel you bro, I had a collection of about 250 in the VinoTemp last year at this time and they were all either sold, smoked, or gifted away down to the last one. Now all i got is about 25 of my absolute favorites in a little desktop.

Its not that I dont enjoy the hobby, but i'm just not going crazy buying them anymore.

[Tim D.]

Originally Posted by goalie204

I'm not sure if i'm addicted or not. I Started smoking one a month, then one a week, now one a day, sometimes 2 on a sat or sun. 7-9 a week.

I'm a compulsive person, in the past with cigarettes, with marijuana, with other hard drugs, all of which i've quit.

With cigars, i truly don't know if i'm addicted or if i just enjoy them as a hobby quite frequently. I'm not sure how to tell. It worries me because i don't want to be addicted. I do enjoy them when i smoke, and take my time and take pleasure, but i'm not sure

I'm basically a stogie-a-day kinda guy. Sometimes (rarely) I'll have 2 or 3 a day, sometimes I'll go 3 or 4 day or even a week without one. I'm thinking if you're averaging no more than one to two sticks a day, you're in control and not the nicotine. When you go from wanting to smoke a stogie to needing to smoke one, that's when you should consider taking control and limiting yourself. All things in moderation.

As for "recovering from the cigar addiction", my interest has cooled in the past year or so. I don't buy nearly as many sticks as I used to, and I am slowly smoking up my stash from my 800 count humi. I too go through highs and lows with hobbies and interests. 20 years ago (in my mid-30s) I was in a part-time rock band and was seriously into playing music, but I haven't picked up my guitar more than 5 times in the past 10 years. Life has its cycles.

[heavyd]

Originally Posted by MithShrike

For me, hobbies are like base jumping. No slope, just jump off, parachute and land at the bottom. Then, having conquered that height I look for somewhere else. I always keep vestiges of a previous hobby and still participate but not nearly as actively. First it was video games, then headphones, then vintage audio, then cigars, and now bowling. Still smoking, just don't have a collection like I once did. Instead of hundreds of cigars I have approximately 30.

Sounds like you're squared away, brother. Honestly, I think you have arrived at a great spot. I too have hit the video game, audiophile / headphone hobby . No regrets, and I'm sure you don't have any regrets either. I'm working my way down to a 50 gar collection and if Tatuaje somehow folds, my quest will be much easier

P.S. If you wanna buy my original MFSL vinyl of PF "The Wall" send me a pm

[Big A]

Had a 10-15 ct that i out grew in 2 weeks. I now have a 75-100 ct and after about a month this one is now too small. I only smoke 1-2 a week and a 75 ct is too small damn slope

[jm0307]

I am definitely addicted to nicotine, as I smoked cigarettes immediately prior to taking up cigars three years ago. However, I am glad that I quench my addiction with cigars, and not cigarettes, as I now have an addiction which I cherish, which gives me great pleasure and which enriches my life. Indeed, I am proud and glad to be a cigar chain-smoker!

[Prospector]

Back when I smoked cigarettes I was addicted. Cigarettes only served to satisfy a craving and provided me no real enjoyment. I gradually changed over to pipe smoking thinking it was safer, but soon became addicted to that as well. I did find smoking a pipe more satisfying and relaxing, but was nevertheless addicted. I finally quit that after my dentist told me that my mouth was precancerous (I was by then a very heavy smoker). That was about ten years ago - I quit that very day and haven't picked up a pipe since.

For most of my life I drank alcohol, and I was addicted. I finally quit that some 23 years ago when I hit bottom. Alcohol provided me with an escape mechanism. I still miss the taste but have learned to live without it - I had to!

After quitting the pipe I smoked nothing for 7 or 8 years, then started having the occasional cigar - drug store brands always. No problems with addiction as I would only have one every couple of months. It's only in the past several months that I've become interested in the premiums. I still only have one every week or so and so far no problems. I find them very enjoyable and relaxing, very much like I found pipe smoking to be, but so far I don't have any cravings (just expectations of the good things to come when I get to light up again).

Considering my susceptibility to becoming addicted I worry about the future. My goal is to not let that happen. But then I never planned on all of the other ones happening either. I guess time (and determination) will tell.

Step gingerly and with great caution onto that slope.

[sqhertz]

eh. i wouldnt say im addicted (even though im still new to cigar smoking) and i dont think ill ever be. i would say , along with others , that its a very enjoyable hobby. like fishing. im VERY into car audio and getting into DIY home audio. last year i went through 4 or 5 different subwoofers only to find something i didnt like about it or just wanting to try something different. now im holding onto one for when i get a reliable car to put it in. and i still find myself 'shopping' for another.
i love fishing also. between the 3 , i have to draw a line somewhere. if it was up to me , id live on a house boat full of speakers and cigars and be in heaven , lol. but since i have got into cigar smoking , i find myself trying to go fishing alot more since it adds to the whole experience making it that much more enjoyable.
cigarettes would be my addiction. and since i dont really make enough to support all my habits/hobbies it makes it that much easier to control.