There are people who think cellaring is crazy.
There are people who think NOT cellaring is crazy.
Who is right, and who is wrong? Well, that comes down to the individual concerned. There is NO universally correct approach.
To the casual observer, there are two apparent "factions" in the pipe world; the "must have's" and the "don't care's". The "must have's" seem to have decided that they will be a pipe smoker for the rest of their lives, and are actively (sometimes frantically) trying to future proof themselves against rising prices or potential lack of availability. Sometimes having squirrelled away enough to last them the rest of their lives, they still feel utterly compelled to keep buying more and more. The "don't care's". Seem to actively choose to be at the mercy of legislative changes, and have no stash to fall back on should prices rise or products become unobtainable. There are people in each camp who look upon people with the opposing mindset in sheer disbelief, and even openly mock them. There are also, of course, many people who fall between these two extremes.
I believe that cellaring several years or decades worth of ANYTHING (not just pipe tobacco) is a reaction (some people may say over-reaction) to a deep underlying anxiety. Some anxieties in life are rational, and some are not. Some start off being rational, and then get out of control. It is down to the individual to examine their own anxieties, and decide for themselves the rationality of their own thoughts.
Personally, I have chosen to live without the anxiety.
This comment may sound flippant, and indeed may even read as condescending or derogatory, but I have had to put a lot of work into eliminating some of my own life anxieties, which I am not prepared to discuss here. I have also had some training in addressing this with other people - again, not for discussion here. I will say however, that as a former cigarette addict, part of my own perspective is a very strong aversion to feel controlled by a need for something. I am consciously aware of this and have made life choices accordingly. My anxiety about becoming dependent (again) trumps any anxiety I might have about future costs or availability of pipe tobacco.
If people feel more comfortable addressing their anxieties in a different way to me, that's entirely their choice. Providing it truly IS their free choice. With real life friends who engage in any form of of stockpiling, I would try to ensure they are doing this consciously and thoughtfully rather than impulsively or obsessively.
Awareness and free choice underpin whether our decisions are rational or not. It's perfectly fine to cellar if you do so with an open mind and rational thought, and not just to satiate a deep and not consciously recognised anxiety. Also if it is done with disposable income only, and essential bills do not go unpaid due to these anxieties, or compulsively hoovering up all available stocks before anyone else does. However, it's also perfectly fine to not cellar and just buy as you go if that is your choice, again if you have made the conscious decision to accept whatever legislative changes come your way. Even if those changes mean at some point you may never be able to smoke a pipe again.
While I do not cellar, and I have no problems with other people cellaring, I do have concerns about "promoting" cellaring and creating anxieties in other people that wouldn't ordinarily be there. To me, this is becoming commonplace in online discourse. These anxieties can (and do) become infectious, and people who would otherwise be perfectly comfortable without cellaring, have the anxieties effectively imposed on them through group psychology. Imposing our anxieties on others can have a negative effect on their lives. We've all seen newcomers to the pipe start stockpiling several kilos of leaf, or asking what they should cellar, before they've even discovered their own personal tastes or overcome the "hurdles" of tongue bite, relights, ghosting, or which leaf works best in which pipe. Stockpiling because they think they should, based entirely on the actions and anxieties of others.
Personally I think we need to be careful to not get caught up in what is "right and wrong", and to both respect the life choices of others, and ensure they are not merely becoming victim of the life choices of others. If we truly wish to help our fellow man in this regard, we should promote awareness, free thought, and a balanced approach to the perceived risks.
Both ways.
There are people who think NOT cellaring is crazy.
Who is right, and who is wrong? Well, that comes down to the individual concerned. There is NO universally correct approach.
To the casual observer, there are two apparent "factions" in the pipe world; the "must have's" and the "don't care's". The "must have's" seem to have decided that they will be a pipe smoker for the rest of their lives, and are actively (sometimes frantically) trying to future proof themselves against rising prices or potential lack of availability. Sometimes having squirrelled away enough to last them the rest of their lives, they still feel utterly compelled to keep buying more and more. The "don't care's". Seem to actively choose to be at the mercy of legislative changes, and have no stash to fall back on should prices rise or products become unobtainable. There are people in each camp who look upon people with the opposing mindset in sheer disbelief, and even openly mock them. There are also, of course, many people who fall between these two extremes.
I believe that cellaring several years or decades worth of ANYTHING (not just pipe tobacco) is a reaction (some people may say over-reaction) to a deep underlying anxiety. Some anxieties in life are rational, and some are not. Some start off being rational, and then get out of control. It is down to the individual to examine their own anxieties, and decide for themselves the rationality of their own thoughts.
Personally, I have chosen to live without the anxiety.
This comment may sound flippant, and indeed may even read as condescending or derogatory, but I have had to put a lot of work into eliminating some of my own life anxieties, which I am not prepared to discuss here. I have also had some training in addressing this with other people - again, not for discussion here. I will say however, that as a former cigarette addict, part of my own perspective is a very strong aversion to feel controlled by a need for something. I am consciously aware of this and have made life choices accordingly. My anxiety about becoming dependent (again) trumps any anxiety I might have about future costs or availability of pipe tobacco.
If people feel more comfortable addressing their anxieties in a different way to me, that's entirely their choice. Providing it truly IS their free choice. With real life friends who engage in any form of of stockpiling, I would try to ensure they are doing this consciously and thoughtfully rather than impulsively or obsessively.
Awareness and free choice underpin whether our decisions are rational or not. It's perfectly fine to cellar if you do so with an open mind and rational thought, and not just to satiate a deep and not consciously recognised anxiety. Also if it is done with disposable income only, and essential bills do not go unpaid due to these anxieties, or compulsively hoovering up all available stocks before anyone else does. However, it's also perfectly fine to not cellar and just buy as you go if that is your choice, again if you have made the conscious decision to accept whatever legislative changes come your way. Even if those changes mean at some point you may never be able to smoke a pipe again.
While I do not cellar, and I have no problems with other people cellaring, I do have concerns about "promoting" cellaring and creating anxieties in other people that wouldn't ordinarily be there. To me, this is becoming commonplace in online discourse. These anxieties can (and do) become infectious, and people who would otherwise be perfectly comfortable without cellaring, have the anxieties effectively imposed on them through group psychology. Imposing our anxieties on others can have a negative effect on their lives. We've all seen newcomers to the pipe start stockpiling several kilos of leaf, or asking what they should cellar, before they've even discovered their own personal tastes or overcome the "hurdles" of tongue bite, relights, ghosting, or which leaf works best in which pipe. Stockpiling because they think they should, based entirely on the actions and anxieties of others.
Personally I think we need to be careful to not get caught up in what is "right and wrong", and to both respect the life choices of others, and ensure they are not merely becoming victim of the life choices of others. If we truly wish to help our fellow man in this regard, we should promote awareness, free thought, and a balanced approach to the perceived risks.
Both ways.