Hi Jack!
Another Jax pipe smoker here. Been smoking since a pipe since I was 18 (my dad smoked and he helped me in the beginning), and I am now 50, so been at it a while. I also have spent the past 15 years experimenting with a variety of blends and types. I enjoy everything from straight Virginia/Burley to strong latakia blends to aromatics. Currently have a good variety in my home stock, including cakes and flakes. Agreed with tokerpipes that Gus at Tobacco Cove (TC) on Baymeadows is not the right guy for a new pipe smoker. Tom, the younger guy, is more patient and is a good resource. The TC on Roosevelt is a more friendly store, but they do not carry the variety that TC on Baymeadows carries. And, Edwards in San Marco was a great place. The guy there, Dino, definitely had the right attitude. Unfortunately, the owner died tragically right before X-Mas last year. Dino left, and I am quite sure they are just letting stock dwindle down so they can transition out of business. I would be up for getting together and can share with you what I know from my experiences in the gentle art of the briar. Years smoking does not mean that I know everything, but I have made a lot of mistakes along the way and can share the lessons learned from them. Sounds like we have a small group here, and it may be possible to transition that into an informal group that could get together. I have also experimented over the years with a variety of spirits - single malts, armagnac, cognac, etc, so it might be interesting to combine the two at some point.