Recently I have seen some posting about smoking. Most people I know who are really into gardening, healthy living, and the homesteading lifestyle, don't smoke.

I grew up in a house where my Dad smoked and Cale's did too. My Dad had a heart attack at age 52 and quit cold turkey. Cale's Dad has severe emphysema and is bedfast on oxygen for the last 4 years and had to quit when no one would bring him any cigarettes. Out of his 6 brothers and sisters, none of them smoke, and of my 3, they all do.

I never have myself. Mostly because I always wanted to have children and never wanted to do anything to harm my body in any way. So from a very young age I made a decision not to smoke, drink, or take any drugs, or medications that weren't necessary. I did sometimes have to take antibiotics for my throat, but that is all I would take.

I do know that friends who have quit, or have tried to quit, say it is the hardest thing they have ever done.

I do wonder how it fits into a "simple" lifestyle? Seems like they require a lot of time and money.

Any thoughts? BE NICE, this is a discussion not a fight!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 27, 2002

Answers

Gary has 5 weeks today of not smoking. Please pray for him for 5 more and 5 more and........

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 27, 2002.

Melissa, I think that lots of people start smoking while young, never thinking about the problems it will create. When they start living a simpler life, quiting smoking is very hard to do. I have seen several friends try to stop and have a hard time with it. It does seem like a lot of money to just burn up. Myself, I have problems giving up the salty snacks. I know I need to because they are expensive and hurt my healthy eating - I do great except for those chips. A little challenge keeps us all humble. I will pray for Gary to keep going.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), March 27, 2002.

I am a smoker, for almost 25 years, ohhh my poor lungs! I have quit many times and I will keep trying til I succede.

No, smoking does not fit in the "simple" lifestyle. The problem is that when I first started to smoke when I was 16 i was not worried about my health and my lifestyle was about as simple and care free s you can get. Now that I am smarter enough to know beter the nicotine has a strong grip on me.

Smoking is very exspencive, almost $4.00 a pack x's 2 a day, I have been trying to use the money I would save as a motivater, but I still smoke. I seldom buy them buy the carton because I am always planning to quit.

One day I will this fight, I have seen many folks that seemed to have more of an addiction than me beat it, so I am sure I will to someday.

-- Mark in N.C. Fla. (deadgoatman@webtv.net), March 27, 2002.

Punch EMS Rothschilds double maduro cigars---average about 2 per week. They sure smell good. Works well with aromatherapy. I don't inhale

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_MN@yahoo.com), March 27, 2002.

No, I do not nor have I ever smoked. We all have our vices though. My husband used to smoke when we were first married many years ago - two packs a day. He decided to quit one day when he realized they were not good for him and just threw them away. He hasn't smoked one since and that was over 20 years ago. I don't see how anyone can afford them today. Cindy, sounds like Gary has about got it licked if he's gone 5 weeks! Praise God.

-- Barb in Ky (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 27, 2002.

Year ago, Bob Newhart, did a stand-up routine about Sir Walter Raleigh trying to convince Queen Elizabeth to import tobacco. During this routine the queen wanted to know what one did with "this tobacco". Sir Walter Raleigh explains how you dry the leaves, crumble them, roll them up in paper, put the paper wad in your mouth and set fire to it. End of discussion.

Of course, as Bob Newhart did it, it was hilarious but I still think of that often and use it as an explanation when I'm asked why I never smoked. Simply put, smoking doesn't make sense, does it?

I've had friends quit cold turkey; usually because of health. I've had co-workers try and fail.

Go Gary. Keep at it!

-- Rosalie (Dee) in IN (deatline@globalsite.net), March 27, 2002.

I started smoking at sixteen cause my mother had forbidden me to! LOL! I quit cold turkey when I was 42. That was it. No dried plant was going to rule me! I missed it for about a week or two, but I refused to be addicted to anything. Once in awhile I miss it but I also know my lungs couldn't tolerate it. BYW, my father died of emphysema in 1972 and my mother died in 1999 of lung cancer. She never smoked. Second hand smoke is a time bomb.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.

Cabin, it is true that while cigarette smoke smells bad to me, the smell of some pipes and cigars, is not so bad!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 27, 2002.

Smoking killed both of my parents. My father died year before last from lung cancer at the age of 70, even though he had quit smoking 10 years earlier. My mother died at the age of 56 from heart disease. She tried several times to quit, but was never able to do so. I'll never forget when she was in the hospital after having heart surgery. She was in her room with the oxygen tube in her nose. She would actually get out of bed, turn off the oxygen, and smoke a cigarette! She had them stashed all over the hospital room! I've heard that quitting smoking is more difficult that getting off heroin. So to all you brave hearts out there who have quit, WAY TO GO!!!! And to all of you who are trying - MORE POWER TO YA!!!

My DH and I don't smoke and don't allow people to smoke in our house. I'm sure that my parents' smoking in the house when I was growing up is one of the reasons I have asthma. I don't want that for my kids. Besides, it's stinky! :-)

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), March 27, 2002.

Well- tis time for the big old ugly hillbilly to fess up, rekon. I smoked for about 30 years I suppose. Mostly cob pipe with Prince Albert [yes I did lett'm outta the can] but those Camels were awfully hard to resist. When I first started it was .19 cents/can. When I quit about 15 years ago it was .90 cents/can. Cigarettes were about a buck a pack.

Drivin down the road in the company truck--haulin a propane tank-I thow'd out all my smokes. I didn't chew my shoesoles, woodwork or fingernails. I had had enough and never regretted quit'n. I did pick up another activity to consume my extra time. Eatin. Seemed to be the right thing at the time-until I gained a bunch of weight -- 20#. Folks would look at me and say aomething stupid about me gainin all that weight because the food tasted better. I always told'm -- NO, there wasn't nuthin wrong with how it tasted before-I just have more time to eat now!

For all those who want to---nobody was more addicted than me---ya'll can do it. I found in my case it was ALL mental. Hope everybody succeeds at this life saving decision. old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 27, 2002.

Not only do I not smoke, I do not patronize restaurants that allow it either. My friend's kids are sick all the time because their mom smokes (should be grounds for losing custody in my opinion) and when they come to visit for the summer it is two weeks solid of coughing up the stuff. Thank goodness neither one wants to smoke!

To me, the money alone would not make me start up, and would be a big motivator in getting me to quit (anything that expensive, by the way). $4 x 2 pks daily x 365= $2920 (if my math is correct), and that is not adding in the cost of gas and time for trips just to go out and get them. I think that would pay for a decent catastrophic healthcare plan, at least. I would also say that I know people who spend that much or more at Starbuck's everyday for coffee....

Part of any addiction is habit, not so much the chemical, but the ritual of pulling out the pack, lighting the cig, and so forth. It occupies your hands, and maybe something else that occupies your hands would help?

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 27, 2002.

Okay, true confessions, I used to smoke when I was in college. I also did a lot of other things I don't want to think about, just like a lot of people do when they get away from home for the first time!! (I also put on 20# my freshman year! - so much for those who said I couldn't gain weight!)

My brother smokes, and has for 35 of his 51 years, according to my sister. We all pray and hope for him, but I don't think he will ever quit. My dad smoked, then chewed, then quit altogether, drinking too.

Drugs is one problem no one in our immediate family has ever had. I have some cousins who have gotten into them, but that was just where I drew the line. I don't do them, and if you are, don't come near me or my family with them.

P.S. - I didn't have any trouble quitting the cigarettes. I don't know why, but I could smoke 10 a day or none for 3 days and it didn't seem to make a difference. Maybe I just wasn't working at it hard enough to get addicted?! (joking, joking!)

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), March 27, 2002.

Hubby and I neither smoke, nor have we ever. I grew up in a smokers den with both parents, grandparents, etc. both my sisters smoke. One lives with me, but, she is very kind and smokes at the end of the drive! Sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), March 27, 2002.

I grew up with my Mom and Dad both smoking but my brother and I never have. While growing up, their smoking never consciously bothered me but it was just something I had no interest in doing. I also never tried drugs for the same reason (but wouldn't have even if I had been interested since they are illegal). My husband does smoke (has tried quitting several times) but outdoors only. Neither of us drinks. Our two adult sons don't smoke, drink or do drugs and have never tried any of them - not interested.

After all these years of not being in a house full of smoke, I get a terrific headache when I am in someplace where there is a lot of smoke. I think I understand now why I had so many headaches as a young child and in my teen years. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke now too but the smell of pipe tobacco is actually a pleasant smell.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.

One of the many things I have always admired about my own father is that he gave up smoking and alcohol for his family. When my oldest brother began to toddle, he one day walked over and picked up Dad's cigarettes. Dad's immediate reaction was, I don't want that for my son. He handed the cigarettes to Mom, and told her to throw them out. She said , are you sure? He was. He never touched another one, and likewise gave up alcohol, as not good enough for his family. Having seen the difference in his life and the lives of both my parents' siblings, who were not able to give up these vices, I have a strong conviction of the damage they can do, and how much better our lives can be without them. Needless to say, smoking was never a temptation for me.

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), March 27, 2002.

I smoked for years but only at work, one to two backs a day, then on weekends and evenings none, at 52 heart bypass surgery and that was that, I quit. I have a friend I call weird Harold, he smokes everyother year. At the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve this year he put out his cigarette and next New years eve He will light up and smoke for that year. I asked him why in the world he could quit for a year and not smoke a single cig and not just stay quit, He said he could last a year because at the end of the year he could smoke a whold pack if he wanted to. Weird but understandable. What I had to do was understand was I was a cig-a-holic and would just have to not smoke that next cigarette for the rest of my life, it has been years now. Now I just notice that some of my friends really stink of cig smoke but I don't want or crave them as I once did.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), March 27, 2002.

Hubby & I both use to smoke----I quit the year I was saved---I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior--- April 17, 1983---that year I quit smokeing!!!! Hubby had more problems with it----finally gave it to the Lord about 4 or 5 years ago---(although he had not smoked around me/ ever after I had quit---he smoked at work-) The smoke just kills me now----& I hate to be around it--- I am always pleased & thrilled when a smoker gives it up!!! It is better to never start----but I have certainly made my mistakes through the years!!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 27, 2002.

What a great thread! I quit little over two years ago and never thought I could do it. I give the Lord all the credit for it though because I know I couldn't have done it on my own. I had dreams for months after that I was trying to smoke an entire pack before DH or DDs would get home and wake up with the taste of it in my mouth (all in my head - I know). Now I can't stand the smell of it in a room or on a person and it repels me to the point that I find it difficult to enjoy conversation with a smoker. Thank God people weren't like that with me when I smoked. I think the wost is outside of stores like Walmarts and mall entraces where everyone stands to smoke. For those trying to quit - hang in there and take one day at a time. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.

-- gloria (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), March 27, 2002.

I thank the Lord that I never started using nicotine or alcohol. I am rather compulsive and if I had ever started using either, I probably would have smoked or drank myself to death many years ago! When I entered nurses' training, of the 34 "probies", only 2 or 3 smoked. They encouraged all the rest of us to "try it". My answer-- with parents and 7 brothers not smoking, I sure couldn't go home smoking! Of course, I didn't have the money, either. Back in '54, before so many dangers of smoking was known, smoking was accepted as being very "with it". When I graduated 3 years later, a very few of the 24 grads did not smoke. I DID get addicted to coca-cola. We had a 5 cent coke machine in dorm basement, and I got into the habit of getting a coke every evening before I studied. I could make that 6 oz. last a long, long time! Finally, I decided that since my folks didn't have soft drinks, I didn't need it either. That first week without a coke each night was really rough! Funny thing, I have never liked cokes since.

-- GibsonGirl in s.e.Illinois (bobtravous@email.com), March 28, 2002.

Homesteading/smoking uuhh.what are you smoking? Some herb? just joking.

-- snow white (gawmonk@misn.com), March 28, 2002.

I quit after 20 years of smoking. I tried using the patches and the gum. The cold turkey method worked for me. I've been smoke free for 7 years now and love it!!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), March 28, 2002.

Pipe smoker for 40 years and worn out that many pipes in that time along with one set of real teeth and two upper plates. Oddly enough, I can't stand to be in a confined area with a cigarette smoker! Biggest mistake that man has ever made was when he found a shortcut to avoid carving a pipe for proper use of tobacco and began wrapping it in paper.

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), March 30, 2002.

hi everyone i quit smoking in November of last year and it is still hard to not smoke everyday. My husband still smokes and it sure makes it hard on me please pray that he will try to quit smoking also. I will pray everyday for gary because he will need everyprayer he can get. I just take it one minute at a time.

-- gail akins (gakins@simplynet.net), March 30, 2002.

This is a timely topic. My sister who just turned 47 on the 3rd of this month passed away from lung cancer on the 26th of this month. She quit smoking almost three years ago but it was too late.If you don't smoke please don't start. If you do, please try to quit before it is too late.My husband quit smoking about 6 years ago. I have an allergy to the cigarette smoke so I do not smoke either. I am so thankful that God delivered my sister of her trials and she is home at last.

-- Diana Coley (diana_coley@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

I've been smoking since I was 15....second day I had a cigarette I smoked a pack. I've been hooked since the first one. I did quit once.....landed in the hospital with pneumonia. Only reason I didn't smoke is I literally couldn't draw in enough air. I quit for 2 years. I've heard that after a month you quit wanting them....WRONG! For the whole 2 years I would dream about smoking. Nothing fancy..just sitting in a chair ENJOYING a cigarette. When I was awake I would find myself automatically checking to see if I had my cigarettes when I went somewhere(which of course I didn't). I craved cigarettes the whole time! When I started driving a big rig my instructor smoked. I was nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. When I got back from my first training run I didn't buy a pack of cigarettes....I bought a carton. There is no way to describe how good that cigarette tasted. My kids actually thanked me for starting to smoke again(hmmm guess I was a bit cranky). While driving a rig I smoked 4 packs a day. When I came off the road I smoked 2-2 1/2 packs a day. I have cut down to a bit under a pack a day which is a huge improvement for me(silly kidney doctor tried to tell me I needed to give em up cold turkey....I asked if he has had his head examined). I'll probably never give em up completely but if I can get down to half a pack a day and be happy with that then I'll be thrilled. Do I wish I didn't smoke?....absolutely! Is it gonna happen..not likely. I do try to be a considerate smoker. I'd never dream of smoking in a restaurant or in someones house. I don't smoke inside my house either.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002.

Amanda, most smokers I know are very considerate, just like you. I do support bans on indoor smoking in restaurants, workplaces, etc., but I do think it excessive to ban it in outside places (although I never could see the wisdom in allowing smoking right outside a hospital or other public entrance to a building....)

When I want to talk with my smoking friends, I simply try to stand upwind of them :) I am also like a previous poster, I actually like the smell of pipe smoke (much like one likes the smell of incense), not to mention that pipe smoking always looked more elegant to me (smoking jacket, etc.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 30, 2002.