Wow, I was surprised when I read this on allearsnet.com earlier today and I have to say I am torn about it. I am not, and have never been, a smoker. I decided when I was young never to smoke. Both my parents were smokers when I was younger, before anyone cared about people smoking around kids. My 3 siblings and I said we would never smoke. I'm the only one who doesn't, and never has. My DM quit years ago, and my dad died of congestive heart failure about 10 yrs. ago, after having 2 bypass surgeries and a pace maker.
My concern is that just yesterday, I convinced my younger, smoking, DSis, to go with us on this trip. She and I already have an issue with her smoking (she's not allowed to smoke within breathing distance of my DD7) and it adds stress to our relationship. When we travel together, she's okay with getting a non-smoking room, she goes outside (away from the room) to smoke. She doesn't smoke in the car. However, some of the stress comes in when we (the rest of the family) stand around, at a safe distance, while she smokes. This is usually just before she gets into the car and then, when she does get in, she reeks (I point this out to her-"You stink!". Sorry-she says). Or it's while we're walking around someplace, like Disney, and she has to find a smoking spot, which isn't always in a convenient area.
Now I'm wondering about the designated smoking areas at POP. I don't want to be located right next to one and neither do I want to make my DSis walk a far distance (I haven't even thought about the safety issue!) to catch a smoke. I guess she could go to the car and smoke in there, but that's not acceptable to me. I hate the smell of smoke and sometimes I have an allergic reaction to it-watery eyes, sneezing, etc. I don't want the car to reek of it. I'm not going to tell her about this yet as I know it'll cause alot of problems. She'll probably want to cancel her part of the trip. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how POP handles this after the deadline passes.
I really think people (adults) should be allowed to smoke in their own rooms, or on their own balconies. Maybe entire buildings could be designated smoking. I still wouldn't stay there since it would be hard to see for all the smoke in the air!
This is just going to make our trip more stressful-I know it!