It depends on the weather. Too hot or cold & I stay inside. We used to smoke in the garage when it was too hot or cold to go outside (to keep the stink & mess out of the house). Now we vape away inside.
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I still go outside, have to at work, but I don't mind, I enjoy mixing with the smokers and catching up on the gossip.
At home I still go and sit in the downstairs bog, sometimes with a book, for a vape. I think this is my way of saying "I am not available for chitchat".
I switched to vaping after years of smoking roll ups. I realized as a smoker that the rituals were as important and the nicotine, so I tried to keep or substitute as many as possible.
In a lot of ways smoking was my way of dealing with 'people fatigue', so all the having to go outside was a bonus. I think a lot of smokers are the same, as they are quite happy with companionable silence.
At home I still go and sit in the downstairs bog, sometimes with a book, for a vape. I think this is my way of saying "I am not available for chitchat".
I switched to vaping after years of smoking roll ups. I realized as a smoker that the rituals were as important and the nicotine, so I tried to keep or substitute as many as possible.
In a lot of ways smoking was my way of dealing with 'people fatigue', so all the having to go outside was a bonus. I think a lot of smokers are the same, as they are quite happy with companionable silence.
People fatigue, phone fatigue, everything fatigue. It was so nice to just go outside, smoke a cig and be able to think or relax. I probably started smoking from drinking/hanging around smokers, but my daily habit formed because of this. It was so nice to go outside, have something to do with my hands, and be alone.
One of the big things I had with smoking was that it gave me a chance to step away from everything and just be alone for a few minutes, escape life and just be me. I still go outside to vape and it definitely lets me clear my head.
I miss the social aspect that going out for a smoke had.
While at work you head out to the smoking area and it's generally filled with other employees, from the high-ups to the janitor, everyone gets together, relaxes, and has a chat on a personal level and forgets all the work BS for a minute. It's a nice thing, I've met many friends and was introduced to co-workers quite a bit at the smoking area of various jobs I've had.
The college campus I attend doesn't allow vaping outside of the smoking area (don't get me started on this one.... they will ticket you for vaping IN YOUR CAR with the windows rolled up) so I have to vape in the smoking area. I've met some fellow students and had some good chats that I otherwise wouldn't have.
And then there's the front or back of the bar where everyone smokes, I remember right after my state put it's smoking ban into place (I think like 4-5 years ago, it was somewhat recently) I felt like some sort of communist rebellion leader as I chatted with fellow intoxicated smokers and whipped them into a frenzy of anger and frustration over the smoking ban. That was always fun. I've scored quite a few free beers from people I've had chats with while our smoking. Hooked up with a few women that way.
I don't really care for the fact that we have to go OUTSIDE, but just the idea of smokers (and vapers in some places) congregating together is what I like, it's just a good excuse to BS with random people and have some good convos or meet some people of various uses.
While at work you head out to the smoking area and it's generally filled with other employees, from the high-ups to the janitor, everyone gets together, relaxes, and has a chat on a personal level and forgets all the work BS for a minute. It's a nice thing, I've met many friends and was introduced to co-workers quite a bit at the smoking area of various jobs I've had.
The college campus I attend doesn't allow vaping outside of the smoking area (don't get me started on this one.... they will ticket you for vaping IN YOUR CAR with the windows rolled up) so I have to vape in the smoking area. I've met some fellow students and had some good chats that I otherwise wouldn't have.
And then there's the front or back of the bar where everyone smokes, I remember right after my state put it's smoking ban into place (I think like 4-5 years ago, it was somewhat recently) I felt like some sort of communist rebellion leader as I chatted with fellow intoxicated smokers and whipped them into a frenzy of anger and frustration over the smoking ban. That was always fun. I've scored quite a few free beers from people I've had chats with while our smoking. Hooked up with a few women that way.
I don't really care for the fact that we have to go OUTSIDE, but just the idea of smokers (and vapers in some places) congregating together is what I like, it's just a good excuse to BS with random people and have some good convos or meet some people of various uses.
Aside from the nic, smoking cigs was all about rituals and habits. Cup of coffee, after a meal, w/ a beer or martini, talking on the phone, etc. For many, those are the habits that are the hardest to break. I live alone and still go outside to vape when I don't have to.
I like it too and still go outside but not exclusively and, living in moutainous high country, I sure don't do it in the winter... brrrrr. Its ritual, yes, but also a reason to get outside. I live in the rural boonies and love watching the birds/rabbits/squirrels... oh, all the critters my dogs tagging along love too.
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I go outside maybe one vape a day ... And only because I start craving a normal cigarette ...
With smoking...I go outside because i couldn't smoke inside. Moreover, with analogs there is a very distinct start and stop, so I'm only outside for a few minutes ... I always felt it was the perfect 5 minute break from whatever I was doing ...
With vaping, since I don't have to go outside at home or work, I have found that I don't get the nicotine craving I used to when I had to go 2 hours without a cigarette ... and because there is no "start and stop" of vaping, I find that the times I do go outside, I'm like hmmm, didn't really need to come out here did I ...
Honestly, my goal is to break myself of my cigarette rituals simply because the rituals were the hardest part of quitting ...
That being said, i do miss the morning cigarette with my coffee out on my deck watching my dogs play, I think I will start taking them for walks in the morning instead ...
With smoking...I go outside because i couldn't smoke inside. Moreover, with analogs there is a very distinct start and stop, so I'm only outside for a few minutes ... I always felt it was the perfect 5 minute break from whatever I was doing ...
With vaping, since I don't have to go outside at home or work, I have found that I don't get the nicotine craving I used to when I had to go 2 hours without a cigarette ... and because there is no "start and stop" of vaping, I find that the times I do go outside, I'm like hmmm, didn't really need to come out here did I ...
Honestly, my goal is to break myself of my cigarette rituals simply because the rituals were the hardest part of quitting ...
That being said, i do miss the morning cigarette with my coffee out on my deck watching my dogs play, I think I will start taking them for walks in the morning instead ...
That's a really clever idea!
I've read and participated in many threads on the subject of what to do when you have a bad cig craving, I don't think I've ever seen what you said mentioned before, it seems like an excellent idea. Almost like tricking yourself into thinking your smoking since you are outside.
I still go outside on smoke/vape breaks at work because I have several friends who are still smokers. I have my own office and vape in there all day but it is nice to step outside and get some fresh air and talk with coworkers. It also gives me the opportunity to try and convert others. Most are like 'Wow...you are still using that thing?" or "if you can stop smoking by using that thing then I can". Yes...you most definitely can.
Thanks UncleChuck ... Yeah for me, exactly as you said ... tricking myself ... but really I think it's satisfying the mental addiction of smoking more than physical addiction to nicotine ... actually, I think if nicotine withdrawal was the only aspect of quitting cigarettes, I'd bet that most of us would have quit with the patch or gum a long time ago ...
One of the many failed attempts to quitting smoking, I really tried to analyze what I love about smoking so darn much ... So I started to journal my cigarette intake...
I came up with something like this:
7:00 - "The First" cigarette ---- First cigarette of the day, must wait for coffee to finish brewing ... perk already! ---- What I like about it: Just really enjoy being out side sitting on my deck with my coffee and cool breeze, no one else around ---- How I feel if I can't smoke this cigarette: Like my morning is totally ruined and why bother getting out of bed
7:20 - "The break" cigarette ---- Have been reading the paper and time it's for a break ---- What I like about it: After reading the paper for 30 minutes, it feels good to get up and stand outside and ponder what I have been reading, feels very comfortable, sort of like a warm blanket ---- How I feel if I can't smoke this cigarette: Why bother reading the paper if I can't take a break to smoke a cigarette, like my morning has been ruined ...
7:50 - "The before I get ready" cigarette ---- Finished reading the paper and cleaned up a little, now it's time to get ready for work ---- What I like about it: Gives me another 5 minutes of procrastinating getting ready for work, last time I have in the morning to be in my pjs and enjoy the morning air, mental preparation for the upcoming day ---- How I feel if I can't smoke this cigarette: Getting ready for work doesn't feel right without this cigarette. I literally feel lost and not sure what to do with myself
...
You get the picture ... I stopped doing this after two days simply because all of my cigarettes were pretty much routine ... But it did help a lot in discovering what about cigarettes I love and why not smoking is soooo freaking hard ... (I should note that even after really analyzing it, I still couldn't quit ... LOL)
Happy to say that vaping has been able to curb these moments ... and when cravings come on, I can vape the same as if I had a normal cigarette to curb the mental let downs (I called them micro-depressions) mentioned above (that I used to get all the time with other NRTs ).
Also, sorry didn't mean to hijack the OP, but just thought I'd share in case it helps someone else ...
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At home I vape both inside and outside. But only outside because I am out with the pops anyway. Elsewhere I vape outside out of respect for others. Though at work vaping while wandering the grounds helps me relax.
I'm right there with you.. often 98F and 100% humidity. I love the south but it'll kick your .... if you're not tough. lol
I VAPE both inside and outside... inside at work, I discreetly vape when I'm on a long conf call. otherwise, I got out to the smoking area to chat with people there, or take a short walk around the parking lot to stretch my legs.
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