Habit or pleasure?

All of the above, I think. I've been smoking for so long that the feedback loop between the activity and the reward is deeply engrained. The nicotine hit is important, but if it weren't there I'd still be involved for the flavors and the futzing around with all the toys. It is at once a habit, amusement, distraction, refuge, and a therapy. If denied the opportunity to partake, I could do it; but it wouldn't be pretty.

Purely recreational for me..I just want to try every blend out there before I die..just another enjoyable hobby.

As a reformed consumer of "coughin' nails" I have to say the nicotine is an objective to my smoking. I do inhale a couple of times per bowl. For me it's an added reward.

However; I have to say that the "art" is the largest factor for me.

I love the taste, and pace. It has been noted that I enjoy the duration factor as well.

Here's a blatant plug: Dottle Diggers

I also enjoy the ritual and the aesthetics of pipe-smoking. Packing the bowl, lighting, tamping, puffing. For me it's not a habit but a habitual pleasure.

Ohin3, the way you've written your post leads me to think you are thinking of addiction. I think there is a difference between addiction, habit and pleasure. I would actually state that it is both habit and pleasure for most of us. Nicotine, whether the smaller amount delivered in pipe tobacco or the heavy amounts delivered by cigarettes causes cravings. Filling those cravings makes pleesure. Those cravings are just significantly smaller with pipe tobacco. Pipe smoking is a learned, not natural activity. Remember back when you first treied a pipe? Chances are good you really didn't like it, or as least as not as much as you thought you would and it probably tasted aweful. But you kept at it. Then your body got used to it, and even enjoyed it. The big difference between pipes and cigarettes is that pipe smokers generally don't consume enough to become addicted to it in the sense of cigarettes. Any of you ex-cigarette smokers out there know what I mean. The addiction is to the nicotine, the addiction is the act of smoking. Both were very hard for me to break, but the habit even more so than the addiction.
We may be just bantering sysmantics, but I think pipe smoking is a habit filled with pleasure for all the reasons you mention ohin3. A wonderful one! The experience for me is as much tactile as it is taste and sight. I love the holding my pipe and fidgeting with it.

I say pleasure. I don't smoke every day. I enjoy the smell and taste of the tobacco and the feel of the smoke in my mouth. I like the ritual of packing, lighting up, and even cleaning my pipe.
I guess I'm like Kevin. I don't particularly enjoy a heavy nicotine hit.
Since I've never smoked cigarettes, and I don't plan on starting, I guess I still don't understand the addiction people have to them.

Cigarettes are a habit and addictive . My pipe is a pleasure and a hobby .Life is about what you like to do . I like to smoke it brings me great pleasure , joy and relaxation . I find beuty in the briar and solace in the rising plum of smoke .

I'm addicted to purchasing pipes and pipe tobacco not smoking them lol. I have gone up to 4 days without smoking pipes and have no chemical dependency on them, nor do I have one in my mouth out of habit.

I'm with Dave, surfmac and Hobie1dog and Kevin... No addiction. Just in love with the taste and smell and peace. I also am accumulating more than I smoke. It's all I can do not to come home with a new tin or baggie of something or other when I'm near the tobacconist. I love the tin smell and the anticipation. I keep swearing that I'll smoke more*, but modern life really puts the pressure on and it's hard to carve out the time. But it's rewarding when I finally do.
Simon
* isn't that just the total opposite of what most cigarette smokers say?

Since I've never smoked cigarettes, and I don't plan on starting, I guess I still don't understand the addiction people have to them.

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Dave; count your lucky stars, and don't even try one, not even out of curiosity.

I have been down that road, and it isn't any fun.

I have however; loved my pipe from day one.

I hate cigarettes and it can be struggle to keep them at bay.

I will contend, because I believe it to be true, that cigarettes are far too convenient, and nothing more than a nicotine delivery system designed to keep the user of them addicted.

If I feel that I must have nicotine, then I will go through the ritual of preparing a proper pipe to remind me that... I hate cigarettes, and remind myself that the pipe is not the same thing as a coughin' nail, and generally get my head in the right place. By the time I've ritually packed my pipe the craving will have past, and I will wait until I'm in the right frame of mind to enjoy the pipe smoking art for art's sake. Nothing says that I have to smoke it right then, I often set them aside, for later. (sometimes for several hours, sometimes for the whole day) (granted not as often as I probably should)

But, I do inhale once or twice per bowl... so the nicotine thing is still there. However, I am making a concerted effort to refrain from even that "once or twice". But, the kinesthetic memory of a 36 year habit is tough to overcome.

So, just to see how much I really crave nicotine; I will not smoke tomorrow (meaning my waking hours on Saturday).

I'm not going to lie pstlpkr that sounded like something out of a book or a famous quote from a pipe smoker. Very well put and well said.

pstlpkr, thanks for that informative perspective. I really appreciate you taking the time to write that. I grew up in a family where tobacco usage of any kind was considered wrong. This was probably a good thing, since it kept me away from cigarettes. My ignorance of tobacco led me to assume that all ways of using it were just the same. I am happy to say that I now understand the difference, and posts like yours confirm that difference.

I think the distinction between instrumental use and ritual use is a good one to use. Some people drink coffee because of the effects of caffeine. The use of the drug is a means to an end. Some coffee drinkers aren't affected by the caffeine and drink it for the pleasure and taste of the coffee itself. Cigarette smokers smoke as a means to avoid withdrawal and provide the relaxation that smoking provides for them. Pipe smoking is an end in itself. It produces its own pleasure through the rituals that surround pipe smoking, as condorguy suggests.

Phil (ohin3), nice thread. It evoked some great contributions and perspectives.

Hauntedmyst's post resonates the most with my views, but everyone's posts provided valuable insights, and forced some re-examination.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

I admit that I did miss my morning pipe with my joe this morning.

But, none the worse for wear.

I'm not going to lie pstlpkr that sounded like something out of a book or a famous quote from a pipe smoker.

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Does it really? Sorry, just telling the truth again.

This is a copy and paste from my posting in the "What are you smoking?" string.

I will not smoke during my waking hours on Saturday, just to test myself.

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Well....

My experience was no big deal.

While I did desire a pipe or two during the course of the day.

The times that I missed my pipe the most were in the morning with cup of joe, and late in the evening with my book and martini. I do not believe that the lack nicotine was anything more than a minimal urge.

This morning I resumed my customary pipe with my coffee.

I have been following a practice (of late) that was described in one of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries as described by Dr. Watson.

Sherlock was described as smoking his cleaned and dried dottle from the previous day.

I have restricted the dottle to the plugs that occasionally remain at the end of a pipe. I carefully discard totally consumed tobacco and store the plugs in an empty Half and Half can.

I have to admit that the "rustic" flavor and smokey taste go quite agreeably with my morning joe.

This morning: Dottle in my Chacom Churchwarden, and a strong cup of Joesephus Daniels.