I started in earnest in 2002, went head over heels into PAD and TAD like most knuckleheads like me do for about 3 solid years. During that time I had the luxury of smoking at work pretty much all I wanted to but as with most places and these modern times that quickly came to an abrupt end. I started hitting a cigar only shop and got back into them with pipe gradually falling back to simply a fair weather type excursion around the house and the outdoors. Cigars became too pricey for my liking so I started down a terrible road with dip, that crap consumed me by rekindling my nicotine addiction back to full blown for almost 5 years. I finally got that monkey off me and used no nicotine products for a year or so. I had sold off a good number of my pipes and tobaccos but fortunately I wasn't dumb enough to get rid of all of my pipes and cellared tobaccos, I kept a few high grades that smoked best for me, somehow knowing I'd be back for them and one day a few years back, I dug them out, cleaned them up and broke out some 10 year old Haddo's. What a way to re-enter the hobby! I never really got out of it but the intensity of the flame drew to a near smoldering bowl before I realized that pipe smoking is what I enjoy, is what's good for my mind, is what's good for my inner peace.
I still enjoy a good cigar ( they don't cost me now that I work in a real tobacco shop P/T) and I've come to appreciate such a wider variety of pipe tobaccos in the process. Although we carry an ample supply of pipes and tobacco I still horse trade a fair amount with forum members for both and THAT is a lot of fun. I meet more pipe smokers in a few months time than many on here will meet in their lives, sadly, but I learn from each one of them. I do my best to forward what works best for me to other fledglings on these forums.
I apologize for not just answering 3-5 years but it's more complicated and convoluted than that, thanks for asking though.