What Do You Enjoy Most About This Hobby
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The thing I enjoy above all, is the reflective, peaceful mindfullness from focusing on nothing but my thoughts and how the pipe is burning. Pure nirvana. thoughts come and pass without worry or anxiety. The feeling of utter contentment is the most comforting thing in my life.
While I do enjoy the aesthetics of a fine pipe, I'm a tobacco guy. For me, it's all about the amazing flavor and variety of pipe tobacco.
I am not sure I can pick out one thing. I like the fact that smoking a pipe takes time. It is like a gift to myself to take the time to pick a pipe/ tobacco and smoke without rushing. I love the tobacco choice, I keep trying new and exciting things and have a mountain of things I still want to check out. I also like the pipe porn on here and elsewhere.
I enjoy the smoke of a recently refurbished pipe I've done and enjoy the craftsmanship of each pipe I have done. I appreciate a pipe I refurbished more than a new one just cause of the extra work I put into. Plus I get a chance to study the artwork of the pipe before enjoying some good tobacco also 
I appreciate the fine craftsmanship of the smoking instrument and the rituals of maintaining and cleaning them. Its a friendship of mutual respect and enjoyment.
I'm in awe of the versatility and generosity of the tobacco leaf. Demonized by a society of superficial understanding and appreciation of beauty I discovered in pipe smoking the true nature of a plant that has been exploited and "optimized" by a world obsessed with "efficiency" in the name of progress of profit; and like many things in the modern world, beauty is obscured by a restlessness desire to "use" things as opposed to being in communion with them.
I'm inspired by the fellow pipe smokers that have been granted the secrets of this majestic plant and are able to coax from it flavours that reflect its endless potential.
I'm grateful for the serenity and contemplative moments of insight that I experience in the company of my pipe. I feel that somehow many of those who had great appreciation of beauty and wisdom had realized the mysterious companionship of pipes and tobaccos and that I can somehow be in their company through the same appreciation.
I also enjoy how people react to it and the opportunity it brings to have conversations that are inspired by the mood of serenity and beauty it supports.
I'm in awe of the versatility and generosity of the tobacco leaf. Demonized by a society of superficial understanding and appreciation of beauty I discovered in pipe smoking the true nature of a plant that has been exploited and "optimized" by a world obsessed with "efficiency" in the name of progress of profit; and like many things in the modern world, beauty is obscured by a restlessness desire to "use" things as opposed to being in communion with them.
I'm inspired by the fellow pipe smokers that have been granted the secrets of this majestic plant and are able to coax from it flavours that reflect its endless potential.
I'm grateful for the serenity and contemplative moments of insight that I experience in the company of my pipe. I feel that somehow many of those who had great appreciation of beauty and wisdom had realized the mysterious companionship of pipes and tobaccos and that I can somehow be in their company through the same appreciation.
I also enjoy how people react to it and the opportunity it brings to have conversations that are inspired by the mood of serenity and beauty it supports.
I love a lot of things about it - the variety of tobaccos, the fun of waiting for deliveries in the mail, packing new stuff in to jars....
I think the thing I love the most about it though, if I really think about it, is that it's mine. I smoke with my brother maybe once a month or so, but for the most part, I'm a solo pipe smoker in a sea of non-pipe smokers.
Throughout my whole day, the chances aren't much great than 0 that I will run in to someone else smoking a pipe. Most people that see me smoking a pipe don't even know someone who smokes a pipe. It's MY thing - something that I do that (statistically speaking) no one else does. It's something I'm expert at that no one else I encounter functionally knows anything at all about.
It's like a great secret that I carry around with me and that I can be proud of - a wealth of knowledge on a fascinating subject that no one else in my world knows anything about.
It's mine and that's why I love it.
I think the thing I love the most about it though, if I really think about it, is that it's mine. I smoke with my brother maybe once a month or so, but for the most part, I'm a solo pipe smoker in a sea of non-pipe smokers.
Throughout my whole day, the chances aren't much great than 0 that I will run in to someone else smoking a pipe. Most people that see me smoking a pipe don't even know someone who smokes a pipe. It's MY thing - something that I do that (statistically speaking) no one else does. It's something I'm expert at that no one else I encounter functionally knows anything at all about.
It's like a great secret that I carry around with me and that I can be proud of - a wealth of knowledge on a fascinating subject that no one else in my world knows anything about.
It's mine and that's why I love it.
All of it.
A relaxing smoke.
A thousand flavors from which to choose.
The variety of shapes and finishes and designs of pipes.
The history of pipe and tobacco manufacturing.
The preparation of pipes and tobacco for pleasurable smoke.
Cleaning, maintenance, and puttering around.
Restoration ofbeat up used estate pipes
Camaraderie at pipe club meetings, show, and the occasional meeting up with other forum members.
Learning new stuff every day.
The myths, folklore, wisdom, and other forms of uncritical BS that swirl smoke-like through the pipe and pipe smoking universe.
I like it all.
A relaxing smoke.
A thousand flavors from which to choose.
The variety of shapes and finishes and designs of pipes.
The history of pipe and tobacco manufacturing.
The preparation of pipes and tobacco for pleasurable smoke.
Cleaning, maintenance, and puttering around.
Restoration of
Camaraderie at pipe club meetings, show, and the occasional meeting up with other forum members.
Learning new stuff every day.
The myths, folklore, wisdom, and other forms of uncritical BS that swirl smoke-like through the pipe and pipe smoking universe.
I like it all.
The practice of pipe smoking is a purely sensory experience. The aroma of the freshly opened tin of tobacco and the smells of the first charring light. The taste of the tobacco as it changes down from rim to doddle. The sight of the smoke and the beauty of the pipe carving. But mostly it is a tactile experience: you do not need eye sight to tell the freshness of the tobacco but rather can feel the compressing leaf between your fingers. And the best part is the feel of the warm pipe on the palm, in the fingers and the bit in the lips. There is something just immensely sensual about pipe smoking!
And, no, I don't have sex with my pipes...
And, no, I don't have sex with my pipes...
I'm enjoying reading all your post this is another thing I enjoy about the hobby is talking about it with people that enjoy it just as much as I do I always said that I was in one of the oldest brother hood and i am proud being in the brotherhood of pipe smokers
I love the disconnection-turn off your brain and enjoy the tobacco, feel the pipe. No work, me time. Kids are in bed, wife doing something else and it's me on the deck.....bliss!
Yup, good to get back into your own body and mind now and then, and check in. An additional pleasure is finding a pipe you've owned for a while and discovering it is thoroughly broken in and has special talents. A case in point, at the moment I'm smoking a mixture of blends in a Peterson slightly bent rusticated author that took a long time to break in, but has a good wide/deep bowl and is a perfect pipe for blends, giving everything room to unfold. Once or twice a month there's a discovery like this.
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