If and when you get the urge to shave off your beard, I follow this rule... think about that decision before committing. Here are the timescales I use:

• 0-12 months - 1 day of contemplation per week you've had your beard

• 1-5 years - 1 month of contemplation per year before committing to the decision of shaving

• 5+ years - ... you're drunk, go home. You'll come to your senses in the morning. If you accidentally shave it off now, you'll have to reintroduce yourself to your friends, family, and coworkers because nobody will recognize you!

If you can make it to the end of the time frame when you started to think about shaving and you still want to lop off your majestic mane you've invested all that time and patience into growing out, then go ahead and shave it. Otherwise, that urge was just a a 'Call of the void' that you shouldn't act on.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents.