Looking back at 2013

[SurpriseMVP]

Curious what everyone has learned about themselves and their smoking habits in 2013?

For me:
Big difference between the past years and 2013 is I am all about the wait now. I used to be all about the chase on new releases and smoking all of them. I now take more pleasure in buying and burying for the long haul. I stopped keeping a google doc of inventory and deleted the one I had. It's nice to find stuff you forgot you had and will be even better finding boxes that have been buried for years.
Other thing I learned is I could of swore I was a 2-3 a week smoker. Turns out after tracking it for Jonathan's plug review panel I'm almost a 1 a day. I learned this year that i have to buy more to keep up with my habits and the goal of aging. Added a fourth cooler for this reason last week.

Mike

 

[pbibby]

Awesome idea, Mike. Personally, I learned that I am a collector. I maybe smoke 50 cigars a year. For me it's about really appreciating each and every cigar I smoke. Can't wait to see what others say. Thanks for the thread!

 

[mwlabel]

I've learned to ENTIRELY let go of the macho factor. Even on a full stomach, I can't handle sticks that drop Vitamin N bombs.

Also learning to fine tune my taste:selection ratio a little more.

 

[Anthony_Joseph]

I've learned I have a lot to learn.

 

[CigarGavin]

Over the last few years I've learned the hype is the number 1 killer for cigars and brands; no matter how good, how rare, or how pricey no cigar is a match for hype, can never live up.

Thanks for the reminder thread mike, happy new year

 

[BrittS88]

I learned that even though I want to be a liga whore. I'm a Tatwhore.

 

[rev.b]

I learned you can spend xxxxk without blinking an eye and go from a 10 CNT travel case to a walk-in in 9mo if you ain't careful. I learned I can get online and meet a bunch of fellow enthusiast that help bring great enjoyment to the world of cigars. I learned the 12/15 on here I've met in person was worth the time spent and expect to meet twice that this following year!!! Thank you to all of you guys on BOTL .....your tha 'tits'. Peace........Bryan

 

[Monsterdg]

I found that I get too busy with work/home and haven't been taking enough time for myself. I've resolved to carve out an hour or two most evenings & have a nice cigar and a beverage.

I'm smoking with a little more thought & trying to really get a sense of my tastes and will be buying more boxes and less singles with that in mind.

 

[Wolf4birdie]

I went from a non-cigar smoker to owning 4 humidors, chasing hard to find ciagrs and belonging to a message board called brothers of the leaf.

 

[W.B.]

I learned I smoked 12x as many cigars as pbibby last year.:crosseyed That may be too many or was it?????? It was a good year. :smokingbo

 

[wantacigar]

I learned you can spend xxxxk without blinking an eye and go from a 10 CNT travel case to a walk-in in 9mo if you ain't careful. I learned I can get online and meet a bunch of fellow enthusiast that help bring great enjoyment to the world of cigars. I learned the 12/15 on here I've met in person was worth the time spent and expect to meet twice that this following year!!! Thank you to all of you guys on BOTL .....your tha 'tits'. Peace........Bryan

Well said brother

 

[wantacigar]

I've learned that the band on the cigar don't mean sh*t. Chasing the hype and smoking the best. I've found I've enjoyed some $5 smokes better than $15 sticks. I've learned that there are much more brands out there I've never heard of outside of Partagas, Cohiba and Arturo Fuente. I've learned that I really like Tats. I have learned that some really great people are gathered on a little forum named BOTL to share in the enjoyment of cigars and camaraderie of their fellow "Brothers of The Leaf". I've learned that people could actually have a popcorn addiction (Rob). I've learned that there is a generosity that is unparalleled and a concern for their fellow man on an internet website that I am addicted to. I've learned there is a lot of thought that goes into preparing bombs!! Oh, it is coming Doug......

 

[javajunkie]

I found that I get too busy with work/home and haven't been taking enough time for myself. I've resolved to carve out an hour or two most evenings & have a nice cigar and a beverage.

I'm smoking with a little more thought & trying to really get a sense of my tastes and will be buying more boxes and less singles with that in mind.

good points both, tim. between work, and giving any remaining time to friends and fam, i need to carve out that niche for myself. and while i have a good idea of what like already, i am hoping that piping in 2014 for when i want to "just smoke" will allow me to immerse myself more fully in the cigars i choose, really get the most out of each one.

 

[pbibby]

I learned I smoked 12x as many cigars as pbibby last year.:crosseyed That may be too many or was it?????? It was a good year. :smokingbo

Hilarious! No worries! I just try to sit and truly enjoy each and every opportunity.

 

[Hoshneer]

Over the last few years I've learned the hype is the number 1 killer for cigars and brands; no matter how good, how rare, or how pricey no cigar is a match for hype, can never live up.

Thanks for the reminder thread mike, happy new year

This ^^^ I have calmed down on the hype quite a bit. I no longer chase cigars down I just find great cigars that are consistently better than others. Which means I smoke a lot of thousands.
I have also learned to moderate this year keeping to one cigar a day and one pipe if I feel like I have the time.

 

[Heath]

I've learned I have a lot to learn.

I second that!

 

[Angry Bill]

My personal life has lots of changes this past year with putting true priorities back in place, seeking knowledge and wisdom, created a core group of brothers that help each other stay focused, as well as cause growth. That is one of the main reason I came back to church and The Lord. Truly, I am not the same person I was last January 1.

As for cigars, I continue to gain knowledge in my palate.

 

[jmartins]

That is a great question. What have I learned this year well where to start... Lets start with the brotherhood itself this year was a very trying year as my family and I went through some very big highs but even bigger lows. I found myself on the brink of self destruction and without this family we have here I may have gone completely insane, which turns out being a part of this brotherhood resulted in the exact same outcome lol. I have brothers on here that I know without a question of a doubt are true friends of the greatest type. I owe a couple of them more then I can post and what each of them have given me is beyond words and I will forever be grateful.

Now for the cigars. When I started here I smoked nothing but CC's, that was exactly who I was. Then I stumbled onto this magical place. Turns out the world is full of very good cigars from all different places. Now rather then the desktop humidor I now have a full humidor, 2 full tupidors, and 4 Mason jars of pipe baccy and now 3 pipes which in pipes was so magical as it is an amazing memory I will forever remember now. As for the cigars whether it be tats, DE, AF, my father, etc (as the list could go on for a long while) there is magic to be found if you just know where to look or who to ask. Cigars have definitely become a great adventure and lets hope 2014 with all it's potential can show 2013 what it missed.

Cheers,
JM

 

[sean]

Yeah, I'm also on the "less hype/more wait" trajectory...

 

[skullnbones]

I learned that there is always going to be another HTF, LE, or RE just around the corner, and the majority aren't worth the time, money or frustration. Its the people that make this hobby worth pursuing.