I’ve decided that now is the time to quit smoking, and for what I’m sure are largely narcissistic reasons I will come to regret later, I have decided to share this experience with the blog. First, let me describe the circumstances surrounding my decision and those that led to the beginning of the end, so to speak:

I have been smoking since around 19 years old, about 14 years now. Predictably, my reason for smoking was stupid: I was hanging out in bars underage with a gigantic black marker “X” on each hand. Everyone else was at least drinking, and I found that I could not figure out what to do with my hands. Putting them in my pockets looked too childish when I was trying to be a rock star and pick up women, so I started smoking.

How’s that for stupid? But I thought I looked cool. Let’s face it: I did look cool, and so does everyone else who smokes in thier twenties and thirties. But it’s a young man’s game, and as I mature, I realize I’m not bound by such plebian crutches.? I’ve spent fourteen years smoking, five of which at least wishing I could quit.? I’m cool enough, thank you.? But why quit now?

Well, the biggest problem with quitting has thusfar been circumstantial.? I have been working in Level 1 tech support for the last five years, which meant that I was both broke and under constant pressure both at work and at home.? Lack of funds meant constant bill-paying/bill-avoiding at home, and the job itself was all about being screamed at for eight hours a day. . .? more if I had the good-fortune to grab some overtime.? Nicotine patches used to cost almost twice what a carton of name-brand cigarettes cost, and if you already can’t afford a pack of smokes, the patches may as well cost a million for all it matters.? Meanwhile, the constant stress of the job meant that I desparately needed a minute to go outside, smoke a cigarette and relax.

Two really interesting things about smoking: one, nicotine is a stimulant, yet smokers smoke to relax.? Two, being broke makes it more likely that you smoke, and less likely that you’ll quit.? I’m sure better-qualified persons than I can explain why these two facts are what they are, but it’s just interesting.

I’m quitting now because my new job, only recently aquired, seems a veritable Xanadu in comparison to my former job.? I’m doing Level 2 support, which means that rather than being the canon-fodder taking all the calls, I’m the one sitting back and working the tickets, only needing to call the customer when I’m ready.? Best of all, I’m working from home.? That means a good many of the triggers of smoking are gone, along with many others.

There is the second reason I’m quitting: the triggers are almost all gone.? For those who may be reading this that do not smoke, one of the most difficult challenges about quitting is the number of different social? and personal triggers there are to light-up.? Finish a meal?? Light up.? Jump in the car?? Light up.? Worked an hour on the phones?? Grab your coat and light up.? In fact, even the act of forcing smokers outside to smoke has actually created an entirely unique sub-culture of smokers at every employer.? I would be interested to know how many bosses who smoke fire employees that smoke, as opposed to non-smokers firing non-smokers, or smokers firing non and non firing smokers.? I’ll bet that would make for an interesting study.

But I digress.? The point is that so many of the really powerful triggers that caused me to smoke before ~ including those most compelling when I fell off the horse on previous cessation attempts ~ are gone.? It all started when I moved in with my fiancee.? She does not smoke, and though she never asked or demanded it of me, I made the decision not to smoke in our house.? Then, I got a new car.? The new car was bought with what is known as a “Smart-Buy,” because you can’t lease a car in New York anymore; “Smart-Buy,” “Lease,” or whatever you want to call it, you can’t smoke in that car without owing a lot of money at the end of the contract.? So, no smoking in the car.? Now, I work from home.? Yeah, I could go outside and smoke any time I want to, and have up until now.? But the key here is that now the smoker-culture is gone, too.? No one walking past my desk, asking, “Smoke?”

So I’ve got my best chance in a long time (maybe ever) to quit smoking.? Plus, I’m getting married in August, and I don’t want to have to deal with smoking (and buying what I suspect will be really expensive smokes) on the Royal Caribbean cruise we’re going on.? Plus, I’ve noticed in past cessation periods how much more stuff you get done when you take cigarettes out of the equation.? Plus, I’m really digging on the fact that I’m saving so much money at this new job by not burning gas and not eating at McDonalds and Wendy’s, so cutting five dollars a day in smokes out of the budget will be even cooler.

So wish me luck.? I’ll try to keep the blog updated with whatever happens, including if I just screw the whole thing up!