A strange phenomena suddenly became apparent to me the other day.
I have been smoking pipes off and on since my mid-twenties and I'm now 60. Over the years I have collected a fair number of pipes; most of which are the average inexpensive off the rack pipes, some are even basket special pipes, and I do have a few that would be classified as being expensive pipes. I even have a few pipes that I have made myself over the years.
But have you ever noticed certain characteristics in your personal actions when you are not really consciously thinking about things as you go about your daily routine. Specifically, it came to light for me the other day when reaching for a pipe off the rack. It suddenly became apparent that I tend to reach for the same pipe the majority of the time and I began to wonder why. Without even thinking...the pipe I tend to reach for most is not my most expensive London made billiard with vulcanite stem, not any of my light weight dry smoking meerschaum's, or wildly sculpted free-hands. I was almost shocked to discover that what I have been mindlessly reaching for was a medium sized, dublin shape that I had crafted in my shop several years ago. I made it out of a scrap piece of rosewood using a three dollar acrylic stem. I have smoked it so much that that it has developed a nice even cake, it has a generous sized bowl, is very light weight in the teeth, holds well in the hand and has thick enough walls to make for a cool smoke.
Before loading it up....I sat there nearly stunned wondering how this (what would be considered abomination to the pipe world) could have possibly made its way to becoming something I would, without thinking, reach for 75% of the time. It had become like a comfortable pair of old bedroom slippers. Ugly as an old sock, but for reasons it would take a psychiatrist to figure out I suppose....it became an old friend.
Harkpuff
I have been smoking pipes off and on since my mid-twenties and I'm now 60. Over the years I have collected a fair number of pipes; most of which are the average inexpensive off the rack pipes, some are even basket special pipes, and I do have a few that would be classified as being expensive pipes. I even have a few pipes that I have made myself over the years.
But have you ever noticed certain characteristics in your personal actions when you are not really consciously thinking about things as you go about your daily routine. Specifically, it came to light for me the other day when reaching for a pipe off the rack. It suddenly became apparent that I tend to reach for the same pipe the majority of the time and I began to wonder why. Without even thinking...the pipe I tend to reach for most is not my most expensive London made billiard with vulcanite stem, not any of my light weight dry smoking meerschaum's, or wildly sculpted free-hands. I was almost shocked to discover that what I have been mindlessly reaching for was a medium sized, dublin shape that I had crafted in my shop several years ago. I made it out of a scrap piece of rosewood using a three dollar acrylic stem. I have smoked it so much that that it has developed a nice even cake, it has a generous sized bowl, is very light weight in the teeth, holds well in the hand and has thick enough walls to make for a cool smoke.
Before loading it up....I sat there nearly stunned wondering how this (what would be considered abomination to the pipe world) could have possibly made its way to becoming something I would, without thinking, reach for 75% of the time. It had become like a comfortable pair of old bedroom slippers. Ugly as an old sock, but for reasons it would take a psychiatrist to figure out I suppose....it became an old friend.
Harkpuff
