I grew a beard right after H.S. graduation, and kept it for 23 years. Then one evening a friend of mine bet me a steak dinner that I'd never give up my full beard. I went straight home, broke out the scissors & shears, and trimmed it it a goatee & 'stache. That was a very enjoyable.....free....steak dinner!
I kept the goatee/'stache combo for about 2 or 3 years, until I shaved off the goatee because I got tired of the constant trimming required (and excessive gray in it). I still have the 'stache.
I always had fairly long hair too, until I just got tired of the need for trimming and combing all the time. I've always cut my own hair since my barber retired back in '75, so one day about 10 years ago, I broke out the shears and took in down to about 1/2" buzz. Now if it looks like I need a comb, I know it's time for the shears again.