A Vaper’s Tale or How I Became A Vaper

I started smoking cigarettes around 1981 at the age of 13. I don’t know why I continued as it certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience. However, for the next 30 years cigarettes were a daily, integral part of my life. I smoked when I awoke, after I ate, with coffee, to combat boredom, to comfort me in a stressful situations and because I was addicted.

Over the years I had tried a number of times to quit smoking. I tried cold turkey. This was not pretty as I was very irritable and short with those I cared for the most. I tried nicotine gum, lozenges and patches. These efforts helped somewhat with my cravings but were not a permanent solution for me. Along came the prescription drugs. Wellbutrin and then Chantix. The side effects were just not worth it.  I was destined to die from a smoking related illness.

In March of 2011, having returned to work from a lay-off, I noticed the smokers that would normally congregate in the smoking area outside weren’t there. How unusual, I thought. Upon going inside, I see 6-7 guys puffing away on what I found out were ecigs. Intrigued, I asked questions about how they were doing with them how they worked and where they purchased them.

One co-worker, the one who turned all the others on to them offered me his backup 510 kit and some juice to try for a few days and that was all it took.

I couldn’t wait for Saturday to come so I could hit the local flea market and get my own. I opted for the largest battery kit that they carried consisting of 2 650mAh non regulated ( I didn’t know it at the time, or even what that meant )ego knock-offs with 2 standard resistance atomizers and bought about 30 mls of 24mg/ml juice.  For $75, I was on my way.

I was simply astounded how easy quitting smoking was for me using this device. Why weren’t ecigarettes more widely known and publicized? That is a topic for another blog.

Since I’m the type of person who wants to know everything I can about something new and interesting to me, I hit the internet and started absorbing info like a sponge. Within a week I was on a forum dedicated to all things ecig and within a month started diy’ing ejuice (with little success but learning quickly)

This was just the start of my ecigarette journey and I’ll write more about it in future posts.

Trading tobacco for the ecigarette has been a life changing experience for me. My non-smoking wife has been very supportive every step of the way. I can breathe again. I don’t wheeze when lying in bed. My sense of smell and taste has improved dramatically. My doctor is happy. I don’t reek of tobacco and have quit burning holes in things

The one thing I that blindsided me about ecigarettes is the community . I have found vapers to be some of the most caring people, reaching out to help each other, both with knowledge, support and vaping supplies if needed in an emergency. There is a fraternity type feeling amongst us that didn’t exist when we were just other people that happened to smoke tobacco. I consider the people on ECA a part of my family though I have not yet had the pleasure to meet anyone in person. We all become a little better people when we share the best we have to offer with each other, be it a kind word, a bit of condolence, supporting  when the world gets tough, sharing life’s triumphs and tribulations along the way.

And I thought I was just quitting smoking

All in all, I’d call that a win.