While talking with a friend today via email, I realized that some of the most cherished people I've met have been through the cigar/pipe hobby. To give you a few examples of the people I'm happy to call friends as a direct result of cigars and pipes:
1. #2 at a very large oil services company who went out of his way to get my feet wet in law.
2. A federal judge who loves his 1911's and Avo's.
3. Several close g33k friends who enjoy cigars, gaming and Mtn. Dew.
4. The manager of a science center, a priest, lawyers, contractors, doctors and so on.
5. A current Blue Angel pilot.
The moral of this post is simple: when you go to smoke cigars somewhere, bring an extra or two. Hand them out and hang out with the recipient. Odds are you'll hear some great stories, make good friends and in the end be a better person for it. The cigar community is a special community made up of interesting and generally friendly individuals and thus far has a dynamic unlike any other I've seen in a hobby community.
Cliff Notes: Go herf damnit.