I was a pack and a half a day smoker for 35 years. I quit cold turkey in Sept of 2011 and remained tobacco free for 8 months. Although I didn’t have so much as a puff in that 8 months, I missed smoking terribly. I started smoking at the age of 18, so all of my adult life I was a smoker. It was as much a part of me as much as my right arm. I truly, honestly missed my cigarettes. I didn’t miss the negative aspects at all. The cost of tobacco cigarettes, the ashes everywhere, the stinky smell and of course, the harm to my health. I missed none of that. But I truly missed the physical act of smoking. I mourned the loss of my cigarettes like one would mourn the loss of a close friend. Eight months after giving up smoking, during a particularly stressful period in my life, I bought a pack intending on only smoking a few and then putting them back down. After the first cigarette I had the addiction all over again. Eleven months later, on April 27 of this year (2013) I bought an ecig kit, and I haven’t looked back. I have now been tobacco free and a happy vaper for over three months. Although it’s only a third of the length of time that I quit before, this time I miss nothing. I have all the pleasure (plus some) that I derived from smoking without any of the ill effects. There are no ashes from a dirty addiction, there is no risk of fire since there is no combustion and there is no stinky smell on my clothes and in my hair, house and car. But probably the best part is the improvement to my health. I no longer lie awake at night because I can’t breathe in a prone position. I can take deep breaths for the first time in many years. I can actually smell the flowers in my garden and taste the wonderful food that I cook. And, I have not been sick since I began using electronic cigarettes. I started out on 18 mg strength eliquid but quickly went to 12 mg where I am still at today. However, I recently purchased the supplies to make my own eliquid and plan to reduce my nicotine strength to 6 mg in the juices I create for myself. Eventually I will reduce the strength down to 0 mg simply because I like the idea of not being addicted to any substance. But I will never stop vaping and hope that it doesn’t get legistated out of existence. I hate the idea of purchasing supplies and gear in a black market fashion, but if that is what it takes to continue my happy hobby then that is what I will do. I am proud to say that I have to date converted 14 other people from smoking to vaping. Every single person converted is (hopefully) one less that runs the risk of the myriad of health problems associated with smoking tobacco cigarettes. Tobacco cigarettes are killers. Electronic cigarettes are the savior. Vape on and vape strong!!