Thanks guys. That's a lot of support and some great anecdotes to help. I really appreciate the sharing and it's very encouraging.
Mrs MM, I'm sorry to hear about your brother's troubles. I'm glad things are becoming more positive there, and the determination he demonstrated is really impressive. I've heard similar stories about people who've dropped terrible habits overnight for their kids, or grandkids. I'm sure you know more about it than me though, after all you and MMM changed your entire lifestyles for mini MM.
Skandrae, 24 days is immense! Massive congratulations. And you quit pre-mustachianism, it's as though you were already coming into the fold. Come April 27 I want to be reporting back here as being smokefree for just as long, and you'll almost have gone 2 months by then! I really like the Scrooge McDuck idea, but the surgery probably is a more sensible decision. Hope it's nothing too serious, and I'll be wishing your dog well.
MacGyverIt, I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. I lost a family member to cancer not too long ago and it's really crappy. The news of your other relatives is great though. Quitting after 50 years! That's so impressive. I loved reading that. I've 'only' been smoking a year and a bit now. Comparatively there's no reason I can't do it. Medication may well be an option, I'll find out monday, if not I expect I'll be getting some gum. I'm not a real heavy smoker and I have done pretty well in the past. Usually when I've relapsed, as it were, it's been due to feeling like crap and not having enough planned to keep myself busy, or to distract myself. Last summer I actually quit for 6 weeks. That was my first attempt, but I had a couple of drinks, thought 'Oh, one won't hurt'. After the one I tricked myself into thinking it would be a waste to throw away the rest of the pack and got sucked back in. Stupid decision, but I know better now.
Adventine, sorry to hear your dad's being stubborn about it. Sometimes it does just require people to come to it on their own, frustrating as it might be and prodding them can just reinforce the stubbornness (from presonal experience). You never know what's going on in people's minds though, he could be closer to coming to the decision to quit on his own than you realise. Thanks for the support.
R62, yours is the epic story. Quitting once is amazing. Congrats on that. In the past I've been really stubborn about not using the various supports there are out there, feeling like I had to do it by will power alone. I realise now that that's just my pride and that my health is more important, plus regardless of how I get to being smokefree, it's still a great achievement. Not that it's entirely comparable, but I know I wouldn't think less of someone who got off heroin just because they used methadone.
This time, for the first week or so at least, I'll be crazy busy. My mum wants help setting up veggie patches in her garden. The back-breaking labour will keep me honest, I'll be imagining I'm some sort of puritan or something.
Thanks again for all the support folks. It means a lot. And good luck to all else taking up the gauntlet. Let us know your quit dates and keep us updated.