This was inspired by my last road trip in Victoria. Fresh air, a clean river, birds flocking to the benches — just people enjoying the things their surroundings gave them. And upon seeing scenery like that, my first thought was, as it always is: "oh, that's got to be a perfect spot to smoke a cig."
But from all these folks, the only smoke that came was from the nearby meat shop. Everyone else was simply doing things — reading, licking ice cream, sipping coffee, or just breathing in the fresh air. Why wouldn't I?
The one who could just stop
I was travelling with my love (she also smokes — smoking hot, and smokes a cig), and we talked about it. I'd seen a slight change in her habit there; she'd greatly reduced how much she smoked. She said she could just stop things cold-turkey — smoking included — and it's one of the things I adore about her, because I'm well aware I don't have that kind of mental perseverance.
From that scenery, and from that conversation with my partner, I made a choice: I want to enjoy things without having to smoke so much.
The honest numbers
Right now my burn rate is about a pack a day — twenty butts — and I think that's quite concerning. As someone who doesn't have that cold-turkey mental strength, I had a thought: reduce my current rate to one pack every three days.
Then the real question: how do I make this journey interesting?
First, I should be fully aware of how much I smoke, over time — day, week, month, year.
Second, logging it should be effortless, using the thing that's always within reach: my phone. You always keep your phone close, riiight? But logging in a notes app — open it, find the note, type it out — gahh, too much hassle.
Third, and the big one: how do I make it fun? What if I built a little idle ecosystem — small rewards when I keep my oath, gentle setbacks when I don't?
A tribute to a place
So here it is. I wanted to make a tribute to Halls Gap — the place that gave me that sudden moment of clarity — by recreating a little version of that scenery inside an app. Something to always remind me of my oath.
Keep the little forest growing
Still Here is made by one person, in my spare time, and it's completely free — no ads, no subscription, no catch. If it's helped you even a little, a coffee or a cendol covers the running costs and buys time to keep building it. No pressure at all — using it and telling a friend already means the world.
If any of this sounds like you, come plant your first day. It's free, there are no ads, and it grows the moment you tap.