Bunni, how do like "vaping"?
I like it! You really kinda have to do your homework with vaping. There's a lot of good stuff on the market, but knockoffs are finding their way in, and screwing the experience up for a lot of people. That and the terrible info that's being put out there ahead of FDA regulations. I've been vaping on and off since 2009.
When I started, there were fewer choices as far as hardware. I learned to make my own e-liquid, which let's me control how much, if any nicotine I'm using. I also know exactly what I'm vaping. Being a control freak, that's a big deal. It's also why I know a lot of the scare tactics being used in the media about them, is BS. People don't seem to understand how to charge batteries and what to charge them with. Not surprisingly, that has led to a few instances of battery explosions. Knockoffs aren't made to the same standard either, which makes that last point an issue.
In any case, it's a great alternative, and uses fewer chemicals than a nicotine patch. You can vape 0 nicotine if you want. There are plenty of places now making USA made or UK made e-liquid, and the better vendors will make it to order. Obviously there is an upfront cost, and that varies depending on what you find you like. There are no tobacco flavors out there that actually taste like a real cig. I vape flavors like pralines and cream, chocolate mint, caramel, butterscotch, etc.
Gas station e-cigs are crap, all of them. The things you get from a mall kiosk are crap. To find good quality e-cigs, you need to buy online. If you're interested, I can point you in the direction of some decent vendors.
I had a good run with just e-cigs for about a year, and started smoking again around the holidays of the next year. So, why am I still smoking you might ask? Some of you know I have chronic pain issues, and there is just something about a real cig that makes me feel better. That's hard to get past for me. I hate the cost, I hate the smell, I hate the taste a lot of the time, and I hate how my walls look in my office. Anders absolutely HATES that I'm smoking. It's a process, and I'm working on it.
