ABSTRACT: Smoked for 6 years (3-5 packs / week), supplemented with oral/dip tobacco for 2 years (1-2 tins/week). Started using electronic cigarettes 3 years ago and haven’t used traditional/tobacco nicotine source for over 2 years. What follows is a somewhat brief description of my relationship with nicotine as it relates to a transition from cigarettes and oral tobacco to exclusive use of electronic cigarettes. I began smoking approx 8 years ago while in college. It was a typical story – I smoke only when I drank. Soon of course I found myself drinking often so that I could have a cigarette. Through the 6 years I smoked I used 3-5 packs (20 cigarettes/pack) per week Exiting college I found myself at a job where it was often inconvenient to smoke, so I turned to oral tobacco (dip) to supplement my smoking. I used approx. 1-2 tins per week. 3 summers ago a friend of mine picked up an exotic item: an electronic cigarette. I initially thought it was an entertaining additional supplement to my nicotine intake, and one that I could use at work. I had no intention to stop smoking, but it was more convenient than using oral tobacco and I quickly replaced dip with electronic cigarettes while on the job. Although I enjoyed electronic cigarettes the products I were using weren’t a qualifying replacement for traditional tobacco cigarettes, nor was I looking for one. Then I began frequenting electronic cigarette enthusiast websites and discovered the cottage industry of high performance electronic cigarettes and the community of proud non-smokers that frequent such businesses. Contrasting with the readily-available/mainstream electronic cigarettes I had been using (pen-type with traditional pre-filled cartridge), these new electronic cigarettes I found were more satisfying than the real thing. I could have the sensation of smoking while using flavors that both tasted and smelt to those around me pleasurable. I initially used high-nicotine content fluids to sate my desire for nicotine and I came to believe that tobacco cigarettes couldn’t do for me what electronic cigarettes did, though as I’ve written I was never looking to stop smoking. I naturally did stop purchasing cigarettes, though – I preferred and do prefer now electronic cigarettes. Over time my sense of smell and taste returned – a blessing as a food enthusiast. Now that I’ve regained my sensory enjoyment that was dulled from cigarettes I’m entirely unwilling to return to cigarettes. Over the past two years I have steadily decreased the potency (mg Nicotine / ml of fluid) with the encouragement of a supporting electronic community to where my overall nicotine intake has most likely declined from what it was when I was using traditional/tobacco nicotine sources. Not smoking also offers me pride in smelling and looking more professional and my occupational prestige has risen over the past two years greatly, now holding a very desirable and rare position in my field.