Ok ok ok... I prefer not to have to take my pipe out of my clench when smoking, because that is essential to my enjoyment of smoking a pipe. But, I do go out with my wife shopping and chose a place off to the side of anyone else or just somewhere where I can enjoy my pipe in peace, but there is something magical about pipes that attracts people. I have been asked to allow a child to smell my tobacco, angsty women want to set down and tell me their woes, other men interested and wanting to ask questions about pipes, and people that just want to set near me to smell my tobacco.
I don't have a natural paranoia that people are offended by my smoke. In fact, I have seen way more evidence in roaming the country that people love pipe smoke; Virginias, VaPers, burleys, Latakia, you won't find me smoking any tooty fruities very often... not where people will see me doing it anyways. Maybe the rare Karen in the wild and her fake cough, but I just assume no one likes that slack jawed bitch anyways, ammmirite?
Essentially, I am a better listener than I am a jawer. So, listening while smoking, I can do. I can smile, nod... just listen. If asked a question, I'll wait till I have hit a point where I might need to tamp anyways before responding. If they're in a hurry, no sweat on me. An emergency on someone else's part, NEVER translates into an emergency on my part.
I love people. I am just not that adept at communicating. A pipe is my excuse to just be naturally more introverted. My wife will have her girlfriends over, and I don't mind enjoying my pipe on the deck with them. I just don't want to interact, but I listen. Laugh when appropriate (most of the time), and I enjoy being around them. I just don't want to take my pipe out of my mouth.
I think that keeping my mouth shut, and being the listener makes me a better social person. If I have something to say, I can tell you guys on here.
I am introverted, but that doesn't make me anti-social at all.
Yeh, cigar guys, get around them, and all they want to do is swing dicks and have pissing contests. I'll just be here smoking, laughing internally at the toxic masculinity. I don't mind being around it, just don't ask me questions, unless your willing to wait till :::
I::: feel like taking my pipe out of my mouth.