I will so agree with this. Like I said,It's not that I don't appreciate my local, it's just that If I want a new pipe I pretty much have to go online as my locals selection hasn't changed much in a long time and thus I have already gone over it with a fine toothed comb. Ya'll know I like my Pilots mix which is just a rebranded name for a McClellans blend. And I've also combed the dwindling tinned section as well. so when I need more Port or Pilots mix I go there besides hangin out with the crew there as well. That being said more people go in there for a bottle of wine or a cigar or cigarette tobacco than anything else.
And I love it when I go out about town with my pipe hangin outta my mouth. I get all sorts of looks. It's like I came outta the past and they don't know what to make of me ? Weird but that's the way it's goin. I still on rare occasion get a compliment but it seems in this modern Stepford citizen society it's a taboo now like eating fatty food so I get stares or the hey Shirlock or Popeye or Aye Captain(when I wear my (Fiddler on the roof hat) Which is a Greek hat without all the sea braiding stuff on it. .....
On that Note I wish to point out some notably cool Pipe smokers from the past
Norman Rockewell-Famous Illustrator(a distant cousin I found out)
Sailor Jerry-Famous Tattoo artist and the name behind Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum (which is good stuff by the way) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry
Bing Crosby
Fred Bear -Famous Bow manufacturer and Hunter
Just to name a few