Anticipation

[Ben]

At the moment I'm basically a daily smoker one a day maybe 2 a day on weekends. But one of my New Year Resolutions was to cut back to maybe 2 a week. Last night I had my first stick since New Years, an R&J Churchill.

I was sitting there at work all day drooling about it and the experience of smoking it was absolutely fantastic. It struck me that Cigar Smoking had become routine for me, which staggered me to think about. I remember Sam & Al at the Sydney do talking about how Anticipation was as big a part of their Cigar Experience as the actual smoking and after my whopping 12 day hiatus I'd definately agree.

Are we frequent smokers missing out on the joy of it all?

[dragon]

I generally smoke only 2 or 3 per month. Right now I figure I have enough to last me until age 113,

[mgillett]

Agree with you Ben. I reckon I would be lucky to have 2 - 3 per month and that makes it more of an occassion. Leading up to Christmas I was probably hitting a couple a week and was almost habitual. Being a "non-smoker" I like to preserve the occassion a little I think and when I do have a cigar I like to make it a decent one...

[Ken Gargett]

i'm 'irregular'. if i'm off on a fishing holiday or such, may have 3-4 a day. at home, may have little bursts of one a day for 4-5 days but then will often stop and may not have one for two weeks or so. and you are spot on - the anticipation builds big time.

[JMH]

I also find the anticipation to be an important part of the smoking experience. I found that when I was smoking every day for a few weeks early december last year, it kind of drowned my palette, and it lost the excitement. I had my first cigar since nye last night as well (Cohiba Lanceros '01) and it was well worth the wait. I find if I only smoke one or two a week, I enjoy them all the more.

[Shiba]

Well I try to smoke 1 a night and then 2-3 on the weekend days. Maybe I smoke too much... nah!!!! I can't get enough of all this good stuff!!!

[genevapics]

I don't have the time to smoke everyday. For me, it is usually a 1 or 2 on the weekends. I agree with regards to anticipation: knowing that a great smoke is around the bend certainly gets my tastebuds salivating.

[josie67]

I usually smoke one on Wednesdays (off work that day and I head to the local cigar lounge) and one on the weekend. The anticipation is almost as good as the cigar itself.

[spsurfin]

And sometimes it is the anticipation of a chore that builds the anticipation of the cigar you know you are going to smoke while performing it—for me, it is watering the fruit trees. Takes me a Churchill to water them all.

[guilow]

I smoke 1-2 day. I get enough "anticipation" excitement during the day, waiting for my evening smoke.

[The Privateer]

I smoke everyday...and some days I can't wait to get thru my work just to sit back with a nice cigar!

[habanohal]

My egular scheduale is about 4 or 5 a day. MOstly in the warmer months. WInter I cut down to maybe 2 a day for I cant just sit on the deck after work and enjoy.

I do flooring installations and %95 do new homes. So I get to smoke whenever I want dureing the day. As of lately ( Dec 22) I havent worked for everything has dropped off and has become very slow.

So all day long I actually crave a good cigar. Usually when wife gets home from work I take a cigar and head down to the Casino that is 5 minutes away, and enjow My cigar.

A big cut down from 4 a day. SInce I have been off I joined a gym and I am there all day trying to get some of this fat off. One way to push myself is telling myself Self, if you can do this for just 20 more minutes you can have one of your special cigars" LOL

It works for me.

BUt Ido find it odd about the craveings for Cuban cigars. Never had I had them when I use to smoke Non- Cuban cigars.

Makes you wonder ;-)

[Ginseng]

Anticipation is a big part of my experience as an occasional smoker. A few sticks a month is all I can work in and the feeling of looking forward to it, to wanting it makes that first puff all the more satisfying.

Wilkey

[Shiba]

» Anticipation is a big part of my experience as an occasional smoker. A few

» sticks a month is all I can work in and the feeling of looking forward to

» it, to wanting it makes that first puff all the more satisfying.

»

» Wilkey

I did not have a LARGE anticipation on my evening smoke until about 2 months ago... now I can not wait to leave work so I can go home and smoke. Would this be more of an addiction??? LOL

[ALB]

The waiting is what makes it that much more enjoyable.

For me, I always resolved that cigars are for enjoying, not a necessary panacea for stress, as is the case with many cigarette smokers I know (" such a bad day, need a cigarette/s badly")

I refuse to allow negative associations to be part of blazing up a Cuban. I prefer to wait until the moments appear when I can enjoy a smoke; relaxed, unhurried, nice weather, right atmos/company, appropriate libation.

I don't often feel the need that I have to have a cigar, but when I do I like to indulge when I can. Much easier during the holidays than during work.

I would say I only have about 2-3 per month if that, & through December until Jan 3 I hadn't had a smoke at all.

Made the first Siglo VI of the year truly memorable.

[Ken Gargett]

» The waiting is what makes it that much more enjoyable.

»

»

» For me, I always resolved that cigars are for enjoying, not a necessary

» panacea for stress, as is the case with many cigarette smokers I know ("

» such a bad day, need a cigarette/s badly")

»

» I refuse to allow negative associations to be part of blazing up a Cuban.

agree completely with that. it has never occurred to me if feeling stressed (usually after dealing with rob) to go and have a cigar. only when i am relaxed and looking forward to it

[korryp]

My anticipation builds from the time I get up to the time I walk out from work. That's really a long time in my book. I grab my daily cigar and light up.

[habanablue]

good post Ben, and would echo many of the sentiments already expressed that cigar smoking is about celebrating an occasion or at least having the time to enjoy it. for mine, cigars are much more appreciated if you have them every now and then, however I must say that if my budget increased dramatically or I became the sole owner of a cigar company through a fluke of business dealing then I too would be smoking much more regularly!

time, place and atmosphere is what I like to base my smoking on!

smoke up all!

[Loki]

Anticipation can make most experiences better.

Something has to be said about spontaneity. I usually carry a couple of Habanos where ever I go. Sometimes the impulse hits and rather than deny myself I just light up and OH the satisfaction.

Example: I'm stuck in traffic, and rather than this being a waste of my time and adding to the stress of the situation a good cigar makes the experience much more tolerable.

[Ginseng]

» I refuse to allow negative associations to be part of blazing up a Cuban.

» I prefer to wait until the moments appear when I can enjoy a smoke;

» relaxed, unhurried, nice weather, right atmos/company, appropriate

» libation.

Well said.

Greg,

I know you and I would agree that you are headed into addiction territory.

Wilkey

[MrQ]

» Anticipation can make most experiences better.

»

» Something has to be said about spontaneity. I usually carry a couple of

» Habanos where ever I go.

I agree you never know when an opprotunity will come up to enjoy a nice smoke.:-D

[tmos]

Mood has an affect on the experience, no doubt.

[pittesq]

Usually i only smoke a few a week. Often times usually the weekend. So the anticipation for a weekend combines with a nice smoke.

[Maverick]

I dont get a chance to smoke too many. Usually about 1-2 a month. Mainly because I have nowhere to really smoke them. The wife doesn't like them that much and I am not rich enough to be a member of those 'exclusive' clubs that allow smoking.

I would like to smoke a bit more but still wouldn't go one a day, maybe just 2-3 a week.

Ross...