Connectionalism

One of the amazing thing about our hobby is how it brings people together. You don’t see the same amount of camaraderie among cigarette smokers, you may find similar friendships among cigar smokers, but for us few pipe-smoking contemplative types, this hobby brings us together. I’ve recently met some of my closer friends on groups like this - slowly puffing away, occupying my hands with typing and scrolling, and meeting people I would never otherwise know except that we share the same passion for wood and leaf. Amazing isn’t it? I’ve met people almost literally down the street, to Ireland, Japan, and South Africa. It makes me realize that now maybe more than ever, we are connected. We, as humanity, are a family. We don’t always like each other. We don’t always get along. But we are connected and how we treat each other is important. It’s important in our very small piping community to be gentlemen and ladies to one another, reflecting the class and the sophistication that our pipes promote. It’s also important to carry that integrity, kindness, and openness out into the world long after the pipe’s gone out and cooled on the rack…

Warren, if I have to give up things like pulled pork, sweet tea, collared greens, and sip things with my pinky up I don't want to be sophisticated or a "true pipe smoker!" My point was more that it brings so many people from so many walks of life together. It doesn't matter if you smoke drugstore blends out of a cob (I do that) or esoterica blends out of a Dunhill (I do that too). Just the fact that after a long day of work I can come home, pack a pipe, and then meet and connect with people from all over the world and all walks of life because we share this one passion is truly amazing and awesome to me!