That is a great strategy. It gets easier over time though. My tipp is to still join smoking friends, but just don't smoke. Makes you robust against the temptation longer term.
I'm in Italy right now, and it's not really possible, here everyone smokes, I am trying now to stay away from society, but went for a walk saturday and in the bar I usually go, you can even smoke inside (it's a little underground bar hidden from law/society)