Thanks, Ozy.
I find that nicotine cravings hit a strong peak really quickly, when they come, and subside as quickly to a more tolerable level. You're right about the routines, too.
I smoke my pipe about twice a week, now. I don't really crave it like I do cigarettes, even still. There's a lot more to enjoying pipe smoking than nicotine. It is very heavy smoke and I don't inhale it more than a tiny whiff occasionally. It would rip your lungs apart to inhale it, besides it's saturated with water vapor and it would condense quickly and fill your lungs with much worse stuff than a few ciggies a day.
It does make my mouth numb for a few minutes, though, so I'm getting some nicotine. I also know that the smoke makes my ultra sensitive olfactory sense, much more manageable by numbing everything. I will have to go back to keeping my Indian style "medicine bag" full of aromatic herbs around for a while, I'll bet. I haven't used that little sensory crutch in a few years.
