In the closet

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by KevinV

The closet is good for hanging articles of clothing and storing Sunday shoes. It's not a great place to keep passions.

But...that's where my stashed tins and mason jars are!

[Joshcertain]

meh, it aint lying... its keeping things to yourself. Total disclosure is not required every time you talk with someone.

I havent told my parents I smoke pipes cause I watched my Mom nag my little brother endlessly about his ciggarette smoking, and I dont think she understands the difference.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by Joshcertain

meh, it aint lying... its keeping things to yourself. Total disclosure is not required every time you talk with someone.

I havent told my parents I smoke pipes cause I watched my Mom nag my little brother endlessly about his ciggarette smoking, and I dont think she understands the difference.

Agreed. I'm all for minding one's own business. I don't tell my parents all the things I do with my wife, but since we have kids, I'm sure they can infer a little something.

[Herf N Turf]

Well, Im not a kid, but I am their kid. Both my parents are former cigarette smokers and everyone knows "there is nothing so zealous as a convert". For both health and religeous reasons, they do not approve of the hobby. They know I do it. I discuss it casually and occasionally with them, but I do not smoke around them, or on their property, when I go to visit. It's simply a matter of respect.

My castle is a different matter altogether. However, when my parents come to visit, I dont smoke while they're in the house. It's simply a matter of love.

Hiding is just bad for the soul, but you also dont have to rub peoples noses in things.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

...I don't tell my parents all the things I do with my wife, but since we have kids, I'm sure they can infer a little something.

You and Joshcertain sound mature enough to have a philosophy you are solid with but I think there are plenty of young people in forums like this who might not know the difference between deceipt and minding your own business. If mb-pipe needs to ask advice on this issue then he isn't experienced enough to form his own well-grounded philosphy about how to conduct himself. Good on him for being man enough to ask.

If you you hide your smoking from your girlfriend and parents and relatives and everyone else you know because you don't want to disappoint them then you're not minding your own business. WTH? Non-smokers can detect pipe smell on your clothes from 10 yards away and you need to be closer than that to kiss your girlfriend hello and your momma goodbye. Point #1, "You're only kidding yourself."

Point #2 (made up of subparts i.-iv.) Speaking as a father of four and a practiced liar:

i. your sins really DO seek you out;
ii. parents may be very disappointed to find out you smoke;
iii. when parents learn kids are hiding things from EVERYONE who loves them they will be about 10x more disappointed than finding out they smoke; and (you can take this one to the bank)
iv. when you think you might have a problem then you, for sure, already have one.

So then, "Is this unusual?" I'd say, "Maybe not." What you have to ask yourself is, how do you want to be known in matters of integrity with friends and family?

[IHT]

if you're old enough to post on this forum (over 18 ), then i believe you're old enough to do whateverthe****youwant to do within the laws of your area.
so.... why worry about what the other ppl think? you're an adult, they should be able to respect your decisions, even if they don't agree with them.

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Non-smokers can detect pipe smell on your clothes from 10 yards away and you need to be closer than that to kiss your girlfriend hello and your momma goodbye. Point #1, "You're only kidding yourself."

Amen. A smoker who thinks others don't know is kind of cute, in a naive sort of way...

[Dzrtrat]

This is has been a very interesting read thus far....
Tell your loved ones ...don't tell your loved ones...That decision, is one only you can make. My question is, would the ones you love, love you any less if they knew? The decisions we make daily defines us as a person, and although some may not agree, everything you do is a defining moment...it makes a statement of who you are. So the decision you make...will be the right one for you and no one else can say otherwise. There have been numerous responses to you're thread and all answers have defined those who have posted. Now think for yourself.

[jrpvr6]

The band 311 has a song called "Jack o Lantern's Weather." A line in this song says, "Nothing in life is above being honest." Good stuff. The only pipe smoking that I have tried to hide is the kind where tobacco is not the substance being smoked Like others have mentioned on this thread, soon you realize that the things you do have character, or behavior, defining impacts. I had to come to terms with my non-tobacco smoking because it became so prevalent I felt it was changing who I was, and I did not want to embrace that lifestyle any longer. In the end, I could not embrace the honesty of who I was as a lush substance abuser....That, and I was just strung out. Tobacco smoking is an altogether different story.

I smoke pipes and cigars occasionally, and within the past six months I just got around to buying a humidor and a couple pipes. Back when I was about 14 or 15, my sister's boyfriend bought my brother and I about 15 cigars. My parents weren't smokers, but my grandpa on my mom's side smoked a pipe all his life. The rents did not mind that gift, even though we were well under the legal age for such behavior.

Nothing in life is above being honest. I don't think you should have to hide the activities you do, but theres nothing wrong with being discreet and respectful. If you rarely smoke, you can let those close to you know that you smoke on an occasional basis, and you find the world of tobacco intriguing. There's pipe and cigar smoking history from all over the world, and tons of different pipes, cigars, and tobacco to try. Time will tell if smoking is a fit for you as a person, and you never really have to develop into a more than occasional smoker, though its not a bad thing at all if you do in time, or already are one...

[Stench]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

My castle is a different matter altogether. However, when my parents come to visit, I dont smoke while they're in the house. It's simply a matter of love.

Hiding is just bad for the soul, but you also dont have to rub peoples noses in things.

I drink the occasional beer and single malt...parents don't know and that is a battle I don't wish to fight. I don't hide the beer in the fridge, nor the scotch in the cabinet. But for the once a month visit they stop by I don't pull them out either. My castle...but with respect for my parents why shove it in their face? This has gone on for 15 years without a problem.

Wife/Girlfriend is another matter altogether! If you're sharing a bed...she gonna know!

Smoke is easily washed away in the shower and mouthwash takes care of the rest. I just choose not to indulge in those situations in which it would be offensive or cause me grief. Not worth it to me, but to each their own!

[mb_pipe]

Original poster here. First, thanks for all of the responses. I think it would be fair for me to elaborate a bit. Up until a few months ago, I was at best a very occasional smoker, maybe at most 15-20 bowls a year for about the past 20 years. Mostly as a stress relief or if the weather was really suited for a smoke. However, job stresses have seen me move up to 1 or 2 bowls a week, plus all of the fine information here makes me want to diversify what I currently smoke.

Right now, the situation with my girl friend is that we live 45 minutes apart, so at best I see her twice a week, and 90% of the time at her place, and we're not taking it any more seriously than that, so I do not have to worry about a live-in situation. She is also extremely allergic to any smoke. So, if push came to shove, I would just quit the pipe, no question.

I was just more curious if others were in a similar situation and how they would handle it. Guess I'm the only one...

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by mb_pipe

She is also extremely allergic to any smoke.

Ouch. That certainly puts a complication in things. Having never been in that situation, I'm not sure what I'd do.

[Dzrtrat]

Originally Posted by mb_pipe

Original poster here. First, thanks for all of the responses. I think it would be fair for me to elaborate a bit. Up until a few months ago, I was at best a very occasional smoker, maybe at most 15-20 bowls a year for about the past 20 years. Mostly as a stress relief or if the weather was really suited for a smoke. However, job stresses have seen me move up to 1 or 2 bowls a week, plus all of the fine information here makes me want to diversify what I currently smoke.

Right now, the situation with my girl friend is that we live 45 minutes apart, so at best I see her twice a week, and 90% of the time at her place, and we're not taking it any more seriously than that, so I do not have to worry about a live-in situation. She is also extremely allergic to any smoke. So, if push came to shove, I would just quit the pipe, no question.

I was just more curious if others were in a similar situation and how they would handle it. Guess I'm the only one...

Well I guess this thread now has a different meaning. I would say there is a difference in letting people know you smoke a pipe and smoking in front of them. My family all know I smoke, I've been married to a non-smoker for 18y but I don't smoke in front of them and I have never smoked in the house (cigarettes, cigar's, or pipes). Now if I'm out smoking and they walk up to where I'm at, well, thats their deal, and there has been no disrespect.