I am normally not one to toot my own horn, but I never would have imagined hitting the two year mark as a former smoker. I won't bother you all with my long life story, but will share a short one from a couple weeks ago (well, really not that short so feel free to skip).
Setting the story up, I'll first comment that I am one of the lucky ones in that I can honestly say I never experienced cravings for a smoke from day one of vaping. So, we headed out of town on a 2 day trip to attend a funeral. We spent the night at a relative's who lived about 10 miles out in the country. The trip out went fine, vaping away in the car. But once we arrived, I realized I needed to be considerate and not vape in their house. What I didn't realize is I would also have to refrain from vaping with them in the car, in restaurants, and any other establishments we went into.
But I was managing ok as we made the 10 mile drive into town for supper and then to the bar for a couple drinks after. But even at the bar, I didn't want to ask if vaping was ok, so stepped outside for a few minutes. Stepping outside, I immediately got a strong whiff of cigarette smoke like I have never noticed to that degree in the last two years. Glancing to my left, I see 4 smokers gathered about 20 feet away. To the right, another 3. And me in between with the thought of will I be able to resist that urge I am sure to get? But it never came and for the first time since quitting, I felt I had passed the final test. It felt great, but it didn't last long........
So we made the 10 mile drive "back home" and, of course, I took the opportunity between the car and the house to grab a few quick hits before going inside and settling in for the night. Waking up the next morning, I immediately got dressed so I could step outside for that vape I was so dying for. Standing out there, alone, enjoying my vape, I came to the realization that I was back exactly where I was when I smoked. Don't smoke in the house, in the car, in a store, in a restaurant, or even in a bar. I was back in the old pattern of grabbing a few hits, and a few extra I really didn't need or want, as I moved between the forbidden areas. And for the first time, I didn't crave a cigarette, but I was somewhat depressed at the realization how close we really are to being just as restricted in our vaping as we were when smoking. Even that is not enough to put me back on the smokes, but would it deter smokers from considering vaping when it appears to be the same?
But once home, I crawled back into my daily rut, happily vaping away as I sit in my man cave in front of my computer with the tv playing away in the corner. I can relish the satisfaction in hitting the two year mark in spite of that nagging thought in the back of my head.......is vaping destined to the same fate as smoking?
Setting the story up, I'll first comment that I am one of the lucky ones in that I can honestly say I never experienced cravings for a smoke from day one of vaping. So, we headed out of town on a 2 day trip to attend a funeral. We spent the night at a relative's who lived about 10 miles out in the country. The trip out went fine, vaping away in the car. But once we arrived, I realized I needed to be considerate and not vape in their house. What I didn't realize is I would also have to refrain from vaping with them in the car, in restaurants, and any other establishments we went into.
But I was managing ok as we made the 10 mile drive into town for supper and then to the bar for a couple drinks after. But even at the bar, I didn't want to ask if vaping was ok, so stepped outside for a few minutes. Stepping outside, I immediately got a strong whiff of cigarette smoke like I have never noticed to that degree in the last two years. Glancing to my left, I see 4 smokers gathered about 20 feet away. To the right, another 3. And me in between with the thought of will I be able to resist that urge I am sure to get? But it never came and for the first time since quitting, I felt I had passed the final test. It felt great, but it didn't last long........
So we made the 10 mile drive "back home" and, of course, I took the opportunity between the car and the house to grab a few quick hits before going inside and settling in for the night. Waking up the next morning, I immediately got dressed so I could step outside for that vape I was so dying for. Standing out there, alone, enjoying my vape, I came to the realization that I was back exactly where I was when I smoked. Don't smoke in the house, in the car, in a store, in a restaurant, or even in a bar. I was back in the old pattern of grabbing a few hits, and a few extra I really didn't need or want, as I moved between the forbidden areas. And for the first time, I didn't crave a cigarette, but I was somewhat depressed at the realization how close we really are to being just as restricted in our vaping as we were when smoking. Even that is not enough to put me back on the smokes, but would it deter smokers from considering vaping when it appears to be the same?
But once home, I crawled back into my daily rut, happily vaping away as I sit in my man cave in front of my computer with the tv playing away in the corner. I can relish the satisfaction in hitting the two year mark in spite of that nagging thought in the back of my head.......is vaping destined to the same fate as smoking?
I'll hit it in September. The 29th. Mid afternoon, but I'm not keeping too close a track.. 
Needed to use the 31 days of May instead of the 30 in June! 
