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by shzhdbi09gv8ioi 848 days ago
Good job getting sober!

I have a similar background, alcoholic for about 20 years. Mid-life, married and no kids (and wife+me do not want kids).

Life is purposeless, that is why people fill it with religion or children.

It's up to us to make something out of it, and I believe social interactions is the best way to it.

So, for some suggestions, I'd suggest get out there and find some new friends who share some interests. Or maybe pick up some new hobbies/interests.

A crucial point i think is to put yourself out there to experience new impressions, that's what usually make me the most happy. Take a long walk in the sun and experience a new place for the first time.

Here's some things I do to avoid drinking:

* exercising by chopping woods, digging ditches and building stuff.

* learning wood working

* looking for treasure with metal detector

* learning more about biology by being outside and studying plants, birds, bugs and all that.

* hang out with animals. me+wife got some horses, chicken and cats. they are awesome!

* offered myself to produce visual effects for a local band live gigs, as a bonus i get to show off my programming visually which is rare for a backend-dev

* picked up bee-keeping, both cheap and challenging hobby

* farming. watching stuff grow that you care for is meaningful in some self-fulfilling sense. also co-farming with other neighbors

* joined a sewing circle, great social place and as a bonus managed to mend a lot of broken clothes

Good luck out there!

1 comments

Thanks. I live in a city where the main "thing to do" is drink. Hence me trying to get more active, since it's a way to hopefully meet more people at some point.
I used to live in the city too and was in the same situation. All my friends drank and thats how we hung out.

I ended up moving across country and while I lost some friends, it really helped me get out of that mindset.

In hindsight I realize the city offered alot of non-drinking opportunities, I just didn't consider them before.

You might have access to for example:

* indoors wall climbing

* geocaching adventures

* computer clubs

* watch-a-movie circles

* board gaming groups

Or many other social situations where you could meet other friends that you'd find fun or interesting that's actually not focused around drinking.