Thank you for sharing!
Scheduled a joint retirement party for mid may. My husband put his resignation in as well, so our last days are in the beginning of May. we like our home & set up here, don’t want to move anymore.
Really scary, job hunting.
Also scary if I want to drink at our joint celebration. We’re both over 21 years and it’s normal at those to drink. My husband asked me yesterday if I was going to drink at it. I said no, but really I’m not sure. If I do, I know it will lead to a horrible headache & waste of a Saturday.
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Beachy you’ve done absolutely awesome. I want you to think fucking long and hard about this thing:
You have put work into your sobriety. You’ve not just white knuckled your entire sober time but you have grown as a person and reaped the benefits of being sober that are a lot bigger than absence of hangover, bad breath and sour moods. You are more productive, you tackle life more consciously, you get more done, you are clearer-headed, you know yourself better. I am sure you could add and add to this list - and maybe you should, just to really visualise just how much your life has changed in sobriety.
And then honestly ask yourself if a few drinks at your retirement party will really only lead to a hangover and a waste of a Saturday. How that?! It seems to me so much more is at stake. And that is everything you have gained, the ripple effects of sobriety.
Do get back to us on this. This is what the forum is here for.
Also, I have to say, I wished your husband was more supportive. Maybe I am misinterpreting in which case I am sorry! Also, you have shown you can do it alone. But you deserve better. 
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i’m 100% with @Faugxh on this. I strongly support the idea of making a list, or more than one. Pros and cons. What are the pros of your sobriety in the past nearly 5 months? What are the cons? What would be the benefits of drinking on your retirement party? And what would be the negative effects and fallout? Think about and really work on it.
Also I’m very glad you are posing this question right now, right here. You give yourself the time to really think this over. IMO you can only come to one conclusion. While all the folks who don’t ask these questions leave without a word and we never see them back, or only after a heavy relapse. I never see anybody return here after drinking saying: wow! that was great! I should have drunk much earlier! being drunk really is awesome! I can now drink and quit at will! Instead all I hear is “I wish I never went back. Staying sober is so much harder now I’ve drank again. Regrets, shame, guilt. So sorry for what I did.”
Don’t do it Beachy. Stay sober. Your retirement will be so much more fun. hugs.
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@Faugxh
@Mno
you both are right. Deep down I don’t want to, I know it’s not worth it. And i don’t want to go back. Just hoping I don’t get sucked in since we’ll have some out of town friends coming in.
My husband has been been super supportive, he doesn’t drink much anyway. And he likes me better that I’m not losing days to headaches.
I believe he was just curious, so that’s why he asked. I’ve been wondering myself 
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I vote no! You’ll still have fun and nothing embarrassing to be told about. You are a NON DRINKER now!
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My pup is having a bad day. We’re having to give him pain meds to keep his barking down at least at night so we can sleep. Seems to be his arthritis finally catching up to him. He’s 15. I’m lucky it’s taken this long. But breaks my heart to see his back leg slip out from under him while he’s eating breakfast. He had barked most morning & I have in and gave him more medicine. I’m worried. He truly is my best friend.
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I understand what you mean when you say I don’t know if I need to be sober. I flip flop in my brain all the time, I’ll take long sober breaks then I think “I’m fine, I can drink in moderation” then eventually I’m back to completely losing control again. It’s gotten to the point where I’m concerned about my health now, as I’m experiencing weird and scary symptoms the next day or for days after. I think it’s our bodies telling us we shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve had to cut people out of my life because I’m trying to be sober and they are drinkers. I just keep telling myself to take it day by day, if I think to much about the future and future events where I’ll have to be sober, I stress myself out.
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Good perspective…I have a friend who keeps asking me to drink. “It’ll be ok if you take benadryl” mainly for my party coming up.
But I’m like- yeah ok, sounds like a real good combo.
Like you said, i’m sure my body has finally had enough & that’s why the hangovers / migraines etc are so bad. Last thing I need to do is let that take over again. But I know it’s a slippery slope!
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161.8
I passed the test and earned a certification I’ve been working on since January. Super stoked!
My last day at my 22 year career is this week. My boss asked me if I was nervous. I replied - not one bit! I’m really excited to go have new adventures!
He seemed a little shocked. He might be institutionalized… who knows…
but either way I’ve pulled together a new skill that will be very marketable and I already have 2 job offers.
Not sure the results would be the same if I hadn’t stopped drinking back in November.
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That sounds really great. I am happy for you and it’s inspirational 
Thank you
Congratulations that is beautifully awesome!
I wish you a world of continued success!
Blessings on Blessings!!!
167.5
Part of me wants to stop counting. I mean - hey that’s a kick ass number. Why keep counting? I’ve got this!
But the reality is- I probably don’t. It is such an easy slippery slope to slide down. A friend over the weekend, “just try a sip of this (new fabulous concoction)”. I really want to, but I’m petrified that sip will eventually turn into the secret shots from the bottle and lying about my drinking again. And losing days to debilitating headaches.
I think i need to keep that counter. To keep the importance ready and a relevant reminder of my why.
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What do you expect from this drink? What are you missing about drinking?
The flavor and the tipsy feeling… 
What do you think the tipsy feeling will give you?
@Beachy -
Those are numbers to be proud of…keep that counter going (my opinion of course). The numbers remind you if the great work you have accomplished, and it’s really great work!
I think the thought of that one sip will forever keep me nervous…like you said; it’s a slippery slope, and I have figuratively busted my ass to many times! 
Stay your course and be true to yourself. Listen to your gut always, because it never lies.
I hope all is well on your side of the world!
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Just love that numb feeling… you know that escape/ relaxation.