New guy...hi there!

It was probably bad form, but I put this on the "free pipe thread" when I should have probably started here, and then begged for free stuff. :wink: Anyway, here I am in the proper section. Hi!
I'm way new to this...started at the end of December. I got a $4 Missouri Meerschaum Ozark as an intro pipe that I wouldn't mind throwing away if I didn't like it. I still have it, and now have a user name on a pipe forum...so...ya know...you can see where this is going. I love the look of bent bulldogs and Rhodesians.
I'm all about aros at the moment...I like the H&H Berry Nice and have some OTC vanilla that's not bad...of course it could be awful, but I wouldn't know any better. I have an order of Capt. Black white, Sutliff Mulled Wine, and P&C Cinnamon Roll that should be arriving in today's mail.
This has been an interesting journey for me, as my dad and uncle both died of smoking related cancers...dad had neck cancer and uncle had lung cancer. So why should I think my fate will be any different? Here's why...
They both chain smoked cigarettes from the time they were 12 (both died between 60 and 65), and they both drank heavily for about the same duration. They lived hard lives and did so with abandon. After processing a bunch of different thoughts and feelings over the last 20 years, I have come to the realization that it was their inability to control themselves that killed them...the substances involved were just contributing factors.
I'm approaching my pipe smoking totally differently. Because I'm likely genetically predisposed to cancer, I'm limiting my smokes to once a week. I smoke on Sunday afternoon at the moment, (what a great way to wrap up a weekend), and in the summer it will probably go to Friday nights after our local sailboat races (what a great way to wrap up a week), or maybe I'll really step out and do BOTH! I'm 40 and healthy, so I've got 25+ years of healthy lifestyle under my belt that my dad and uncle never had and, frankly, would have laughed at.
So basically I guess I've done my homework and I'm trying to leverage some enjoyment out of the statistical fringe. I'm not in this to "be a smoker"...I'm in it to get some peace and enjoyment. It's nice to have made an informed decision, and to have peace with it after picking through my inner conflict.
Cheers to all...enjoy your smokes, whatever they may mean to you.
Skagit out... 8)

Thanks everyone. Good to be aboard. I love the pragmatic attitudes and depth of knowledge here.
Nate, I've got a quote on my wall that says "Better to live well than long", so I'm with you on that. To clarify a point, I'm not trying to avoid death...I'm trying to avoid death by cancer. My wife's grandfather died of a heart attack while he was cutting firewood. They found him leaned up against a tree looking like he was taking a nap. That's the way I want to go...boom...dead...not wasting away in a hospital bed, losing 100 lbs. and asking to die. That's cancer to me, I've seen it up close, and I make a lot of decisions in many aspects of my life to try and avoid it. Limiting my pipe usage is one of them. They may all be futile, but I'm going to try.
I'm not trying to proselytize, just relating my decision process. I've come to terms with the risks for me. We all make our choices. You can smoke like a chimney if you want, and hopefully we'll all get some good tobacco reviews out of you!
--Skagit out 8)