I've posted in the January 2015 group, but wanted to give an introduction for those who don't go there. I'm a married father or two, one of each. The girl is a few months over 3 years and the boy is a few months shy of 1 year. I'm living in North Carolina but grew up in Michigan and have lived all over (Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and various places through the military). I'm an army vet, having served in Germany with the Big Red One (field artillery). After that I sailed as a Merchant Mariner, working as a civilian for the Department of the Navy, which was essentially my dream job; however, once my little girl came I decided it was time to hit the beach. I'm now a Foreman with CSX Railroad. One thing that sucks about trying to quit here is everyone uses tobacco of some sort.
I've been dipping for 15 or 16 years now. I was a smoker when I started, but gave that up about 6 years ago. I've tried quitting before on my own. It's one of those things that's part of me. I almost always have a dip or pouch in, unless I'm sleeping or eating. That doesn't mean I'm proud of it. I was able to hide it from my wife for the year we dated. The fact I felt I needed to hide it should have told me something. She found out not long after we got married. about a month after we got married I had to leave for 9 months of training. We were setting up Skype on our laptops, her in the living room and me in the bedroom. I didn't realize my can had fallen out of my pocket until an hour or so later when she threw it at me and told me I was lucky she loved me. She came to tolerate it, partly because I used pouches at home to keep it "clean."
Why I'm quitting:
FOR MY HEALTH -
The nasty yellow stained teeth
Receding gums
Brown tongue
That brief freak out moment every time I get a canker sore, worrying it's cancer
The gag after swallowing spit (without something to wash it down) or accidently swallowing a full dip
I really don't want to die or lose half my face or half my stomach to this shit
SOCIALLY -
The looks I get from strangers, judging me when I pop one in
That special look only a Dental Hygienist or Dentist can give you (followed by "the talk")
Keeping a spit can at my desk
That vomit like smell that fills my truck after I forget to cap a spit bottle and it sits in the sun all day
FOR MY FAMILY -
If I can give up on my dream job to see my kids first steps, first words, first day of school, and all those other firsts; I can give this shit up to see them grow up into the awesome people I know they'll be
My little girl grabbing for my can saying she wants to try some of Daddy's candy
Going to kiss my wife and having her complain about my breath, or simply refusing
I can set a better example than this for my kids
I'm sure there's plenty more, but I'm running out of time. Really need to get back to work.
Look forward to meeting you all.