I was a smoker for 38 years. My parents smoked. Most of my teachers smoked. I’m originally from Kentucky where and smoking has been a part of my life from the day I was born. I had tried to quit a number of times, mostly cold turkey. I would choose cold turkey because most of what I read said that the cold turkey success rate was about as high as any other. To be honest, I didn’t want to spend money on something I knew wouldn’t work. I liked to smoke. And the price was right with cold turkey. But I always started smoking again. To be honest, cigarettes never left my mind when I was not smoking. Even when the so called physical addictions had passed, I still missed the act of smoking. I even tried ecigarettes before and had limited success. But the ecigs I used at the time were expensive, messy, and hard to get. Although I was able to quit smoking for a few months I also soon quit the ecigs because they were too much of a bother. I went back to smoking. I was embarrassed because of my smoking habit. I’m only a high school graduate, but I read stuff. I knew smoking was bad. I knew it was killing me. And I knew that the stink that was constantly on me told other people that I was weak and a slave to cigarettes. For the last two years I drove a truck over-the-road. During that time I smoked even more than usual and would often wake up in the middle of the night having difficulty breathing because of smoking too much the day before. I decided to take a local driving job, not because of smoking, but because I was ready to come off the road. I knew the company I was going to work for did not allow smoking on their property or in their trucks. I also knew that smoking was a big part of driving for me. This would not work. I had to quit. I had seen electronic cigarettes at all the truck stops. I thought about trying them, but just never did. I wish I had. But now I had to do something. I went online to try to find the best ecigarette to use. I was surprised at how much the industry had changed since I had last tried them. I found that people weren’t just making do with ecigs, but they loved them. It became a hobby for many of them. Luckily I have a brick & mortar store near me. I needed a little hand holding in choosing the best product to get started with. They hooked me up with the right starter kit and I haven’t looked back. I have not smoked a cigarette since April 7, 2013. My resolve was put to the test in the last few days. I was sent on a road trip for my company. I drove from Florida to Washington, D.C., to Tennessee, then back to Florida. I knew the trigger factor, even with the ecigs, would be there. And it was. But I planned ahead and packed a variety of liquids (flavors.) I had my extra batteries ready. And I had the back-up of the ecigs that are sold at any number of the dozens of truck stops I would be passing. It worked! I’m still a non-smoker. I am so proud of myself. I know I’m hopelessly addicted to not only nicotine, but the act of smoking. I’ve dropped the nicotine levels in the juices I use from 24mg to 18mg, to the current level of 12mg. I may even drop to zero nic at some point. I’m not that worried about the nicotine, based on what I have read about it. But when something like smoking has been a part of one’s life, for over half of their life, the urge will always be there. For me that urge is completely satisfied by vaping. Sorry to ramble, but I credit vaping with whatever extension of life I get from not smoking and a higher quality of life while I’m still here.