I think I gradually (and unintentionally) phased drinking alcohol out of my life. Recently I found myself drinking less and less. At first it was mainly a money saving thing cause I'm frugal like that. I hate going out and paying $9-$12 for a drink when a bottle of Bourbon is $20-$30 at the store, or a pack of beer is $12-$20. Then you gotta tip the bartender and all this jazz. So if I ever went out, I'd have 1 drink. Brewery get togethers with some friends, or dinner dates w/ the wife, etc. I only really wanted 1 drink, or I thought "I'd rather go home and just have a good pour of some good bourbon at home" .
Then I started falling out of love with the idea of being tipsy or drunk while I'm out. I have a good time on my own, I never quite felt the NEED to drink to have a good time (thankfully). But recently, I found myself saying "No" when asked if I want a drink or if I want to have a drink at dinner because I either want to make sure that if something pops off I'm there mentally to do everything I can do make it out. And I also never wanna deal w/ possible DUI's or any chance of my drink affecting my driving.
But all of this to say, when I've been going on my dinner dates w/ my wife or w/ friends, everyone's drinking. The waiter gets to me and I order a soda or a water, and the thought crosses my mind. "drink?"
But my mind immediately goes "nah, not interested". It just doesn't sound appealing to me. I would really rather not. Save money, drive myself and not worry, not have the worry of a bartender making a drink I don't really like, etc. All the reasons flood in and I just go "nah."
Side note - being on this side of the drinking line has showed me that mfs get weirded out when you don't drink with them. People act weird if I don't get one. I've had people ask my wife "is he alright? is he upset or something wrong?" because I didn't order an alcoholic drink. Baffles my damb mind.
. this is the unpopular opinion thread after all. you should expect this
