Getting Low?

[rdomfoto]

After reading a lot of posts in the different forums and threads, I noticed people mentioning they (or others) were "getting low". That got me think about how few sticks someone needs to have in the humidor to be considered "getting low". Then it occurred to me that factors such as frequency of smoking, budget and personal finances will make the answer different for everyone and any particular count is meaningless.

But then I had an idea that removes anyone's smoking frequency out of the equation: measure by the number of days/weeks/months/years. So, if you only smoke once a month and have only 12 sticks in your humidor, you're probably not really running low because you have a year's worth of cigars. I only have 26 cigars in my humidor but since I only smoke once a week right now, that's 6 months worth (probably less if I assume 2 or 3 will be unsuitable to be smoked for any number of reasons), so I don't feel I am running low.

So here is my question: At what point do the different brothers here feel that their humidor is running low? When you have just a few days worth? A month? And what kind of supply do you normally keep on hand?

P.S. it's possible that I may use some of the answers here to help justify my buying habits to my wonderful wife who is starting to raise eyebrows with each purchase.

 

[Kantucky]

For me, someone who's never had storage for more than 150 sticks, I consider myself low if I have less than say 40 cigars. Which is probably a year's worth of smoking for me if not more.

 

[Highlander]

I remember when I had 12 sticks. Now its around 120 and I wonder what happened. I'd say I was getting low when I was running out of my favorites.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[Romulus Cogswell]

I wish I could get to the point of being "low". I have enough to smoke everyday for a year or so but there's only so many in there that I actually want to smoke anymore. I can't answer your question because I've never been in danger of running out. I'll answer your question next year if I can stop myself from buying for awhile.

 

[Dave]

rd.....man.....if you were a cat, you'd be long dead by now ....lol

 

[Kantucky]

You also have to factor in the need to age. I too only have around 20 sticks right now but am just starting back in the hobby. I usually don't smoke a cigar with less than 6 months age on it, and really prefer a year or more. So I'm also "low" because what I am smoking is only a few weeks old.

Hence the reason to have 100 or more, and replace with a 5er here and there as space allows. Then you reach the threshold of having a humi full of things that are smoking great. That's a wonderful spot to be in.

 

[Dave]

Oh...and as to OP...never felt that I was low overall. I do get itchy regarding certain sticks or categories....not enough PC's....or lances, for example. And then there's the staples - less than box and a half RASCC? Gotta do something about it. Less than three boxes Fausto short church - panic time.....I went looking for EPC NWC Robs today because I didn't see more than a dozen when I looked yesterday...

 

[rdomfoto]

I wish I could get to the point of being "low". I have enough to smoke everyday for a year or so but there's only so many in there that I actually want to smoke anymore. I can't answer your question because I've never been in danger of running out. I'll answer your question next year if I can stop myself from buying for awhile.

Ha - Just starting out, I totally get that! I think my wife believes I am going to start smoking 4-5 a day with the number currently arriving at the house. Okay, I am exaggerating (a lot) but, yeah...

 

[rdomfoto]

For me, someone who's never had storage for more than 150 sticks, I consider myself low if I have less than say 40 cigars. Which is probably a year's worth of smoking for me if not more.

My tupperdor holds about 200 (I'd guess) and there are some I definitely want to hold in there for several months (at least) so een with my current stock, I'll be buying more for a while.

 

[Kantucky]

I wish I could get to the point of being "low". I have enough to smoke everyday for a year or so but there's only so many in there that I actually want to smoke anymore. I can't answer your question because I've never been in danger of running out. I'll answer your question next year if I can stop myself from buying for awhile.

Ha - Just starting out, I totally get that! I think my wife believes I am going to start smoking 4-5 a day with the number currently arriving at the house. Okay, I am exaggerating (a lot) but, yeah...

My way around that was to smoke some cigars she felt had a good aroma. Even though I smoke outside, she wanted to be around it. Some of them were also my favorites, but I've also smoke many Fuente curlyheads just because they smell so good burning. Eventually she wanted to taste them. Next thing I knew she was sporting a Kristoff out in the yard without my permission.

So she's now fully behind me rebuilding a collection.

 

[rdomfoto]

<SNIP> Then you reach the threshold of having a humi full of things that are smoking great. That's a wonderful spot to be in.

I've had several people tell me that - I can't wait to get there. But it's also an excellent lesson in patience.

 

[Kantucky]

<SNIP> Then you reach the threshold of having a humi full of things that are smoking great. That's a wonderful spot to be in.

I've had several people tell me that - I can't wait to get there. But it's also an excellent lesson in patience.

Not really man. I smoke anywhere from 1-6 sticks per month, generally 1 per week. Buy one ten pack every month, and your stock is up by a net 5. At the end of a year you have 50-60 well aged smokes. Or adjust for how much you smoke.

But it did kill me to sell off my "collection". Had some things in there I would consider pretty special. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[rdomfoto]

Next thing I knew she was sporting a Kristoff out in the yard without my permission.

So she's now fully behind me rebuilding a collection.

Well played! I'll have to try that out.

I am really lucky in that she is supportive. It helps that both her father and her step-dad both smoke cigars so she's been around them all her life. I suspect that if I find the right one (I should ask my FiL) that it will bring a bunch of childhood memories flooding back and that will get her on board with trying one or two. I'd love to be able to sit out on the back patio at night in the Spring/Summer with her and each of us enjoying one.

I've been grabbing a used (but clean) cat food can to use as an ashtray on the patio and she said that looked bad and she actually went shopping for a proper ashtray. She hasn't found one yet but it's an appreiated gesture and tells me that she's okay with the cigar hobby.

 

[rdomfoto]

My other thought that, since Chicago gets cold and smoking outside from December through March is not practical, that I'll use that period to buy far more than I smoke and then I'll have a larger supply in the Spring.

 

[Kantucky]

Cool. Just pay attention to what you're smoking when she will inevitably say "that smells good". Or drop by a b&m to pick up a couple of sticks and let her pick them out for you. Then she's vested. But make sure you have veto power.

I like Makers Mark. Had to veto her on the Maker's cigar though. Sheesh those are terrible.

 

[rdomfoto]

Cool. Just pay attention to what you're smoking when she will inevitably say "that smells good". Or drop by a b&m to pick up a couple of sticks and let her pick them out for you. Then she's vested. But make sure you have veto power.

I like Makers Mark. Had to veto her on the Maker's cigar though. Sheesh those are terrible.

That's a great idea.

One of the reasons I like Binny's (a large Illinois-located liquor center) is they have a really good walk-in humidor, so I've gone in there with my wife a couple of times. Since you can't smoke in there, she's not immediately turned off by it. I'll take her in again and hand her something like a Hemingway Best Seller and ask her to smell it. Or just open my tuppedor and let her smell that. The cedar and natural tobacco aromas are really woodsy and I know she likes that.

 

[jmartins]

This is a great topic and really interesting to think about. I started out with a humidor with about 15-20 sticks but I enjoy smoking cigars when the weather permits so the summer months I could smoke 4-7 sticks a week but being in Canada come November to March there is no smoking cause it's way to cold. I have been gifted a huge amount of sticks which is awesome that is for sure. Also I took up pipe smoking which works too.

I would say I feel like I'm getting low not on total sticks but rather favourites. That's how I look at it. If I really enjoy "X" cigar and I only have 2-3 left I feel like I am getting low. In total I am far from low but particulars I am.

I don't know if that makes any sense but I think it did in my head lol.

 

[H3rrington]

It's always going to be low.

After all. You gotta catch em all right?

 

[rdomfoto]

I don't know if that makes any sense but I think it did in my head lol.

It makes a lot of sense. In my liquor cabinet, I have a lot of stuff to drink, but when any of my whiskeys start to run low, I have to get to the store.

 

[rdomfoto]

It's always going to be low.

After all. You gotta catch em all right?

Absolutely! Why can't someone put together the "Every cigar in the world" sampler? :dunno: