Skipping our annual camping trip this year [View all]

My wife's whole family has been going camping for years and years. I used to enjoy going mainly as an excuse to get loaded for a whole long weekend. But since I quit drinking almost five years ago, I've skipped it. I tell everyone that I hate camping (which is true), and the only thing that made it tolerable was alcohol. And now that I don't drink, I r REALLY hate camping. I did go the first year I was sober and had an absolutely miserable time.

The typical day is going to the beach. Then cocktails while preparing dinner. Lots of wine with dinner. Then beers while sitting around the campfire. The year I went sober, I spent most of the time at our campsite, reading and hating life, in general. It's way better if I stay at home. It's also way too much work preparing for the trip, for a couple days in the woods.

Thanks for letting me rant.