I smoke while working in the yard, walking the dog, taking a hike or just hanging out with a drink. I don't get to smoke inside yet cause I don't have a garage but when we buy a house it will have a garage where I will build my smoking room.
They also smell pleasant when burning three inches from my nose.Since I've gone from latakia blends to burleys, which actually smell pleasant to most non-smokers, I haven't had a problem.
I don't generally agree with Perique regarding not worrying about smoking with other around who might have a negative attitude towards pipes. I think it is our responsibility to educate the public that smoking a pipe is an entirely different animal than cigarette smoking and should be respected as what it is: a time honored practice that serves those partaking with calming pleasure that actually smells quite pleasant. I take every opportunity to do that. That being said, I do agree with Perique that California is not the rest of the country and attitudes are sometimes a bit different than say where I live, Virginia..."
Spencer, the thing is, most people offended by smoking come at it from a concern regarding second-hand smoke. While smoking pipes and cigars are much healthier than inhaling smoke for the consumer, pipes and cigars generally generate a much heavier volume of smoke for non-smokers to be exposed to, and it's not any safer for them. Now, if you want to argue that some of the anti-second hand smoke propaganda overstates the risk to non-smokers and has relied on questionable methodology in the past, I'd agree. But that's a hard battle to fight.
And on a personal note, and I'm not trying to start a beef here, but as someone who still smokes cigarettes, I don't find it to be very cool for pipe/cigar smokers to look down on cigarette smokers. Cigarettes are a very effective nicotine delivery device, and for that burst of morning energy with a cup of coffee, I still enjoy them, though I create my own blends and handroll my own. Most factory cigarettes are awful these days, but cigarettes are generally made with the same tobaccos as pipe blends. About the only pipe component you DON'T see in cigarettes is Latakia. Virginia, Burley, Dark Fired, cigar leaf, even perique can be found in cigarettes and cigarette blends. And in many cases, even so-called non-aromatics are treated with more flavoring agents than cigarette tobaccos.
Divide and conquer won't get us anywhere. I like many different methods of using tobacco. However, to the zealous anti-tobacco crowd, it's all the same. So I think those of us who appreciate the traditional, new-world plant enjoyed by so many before us should stick together and support each other, regardless of method of choice.
You work on a ship? Are you in the Navy? You're a walking, pipe smoking tradition! I think it's rad.atchisaw: On a ship, in between my duties. I usually have some time sit and enjoy a sunset (or sunrise) while having a smoke break.