I've moved into a community, which means over the coming weeks, I will be meeting new people. That process of getting to know others in this glorious yet benighted country usually means chat sessions including alcohol consumption. But I am coming from a place where I had to watch out, because living in relative isolation, under a lot of stress, if I drank for three days in a row, day four and five I would start to expect the booze. My system both physical and psychological would miss it if it wasn't there.
I'm not entirely lacking in discipline, and I am wise to the ruses the self plays on self to permit the indulgences until they become unhealthy, because after all, our culture does all it can to condone, to sell and to market BOOZE. It is verily a GOD of products, once reserved for special occasions, perhaps solely weddings, funerals and the vicar's silver chalice. Willpower is human, it can weaken, and it does so even among the best and most determined of us. And, I'm not talking about fearing the occasional hangover, I mean the inexorable softening of good intentions, with which, as we all know, the road to hell is paved.
Previously this might be achieved by not drinking at all (almost half my adult life has been led sans tipple, so I wouldn't find that impossible) or else, simply limiting the drinking days of the week. My girlfriend agreed with me, it's a positive step. Let's do it. So, not wanting to be cajoled, dragged or expected to attend "hello!" boozing nights while re-establishing myself socially and in business after a 2 year absence, I explained to my new neighbours that I'd be happy drinking tea in the week, but would defer the beer, wine and spirits to the weekend.
So we started to watch the calendar, if not the clock. Weeks sober, relent on Thursday, back on the wagon Sunday. Or, relent on Friday, back on the wagon Monday, with the first pattern better because it means arriving each Monday straight and ready for the week.
Yes, I will have to sacrifice the weeknight chummy drunk chats and might seem more standoffish than I would prefer. But I can make up for that by being friendly, by selectively joining in, and by not giving too much of a fuck when I don't.
Next: why we drink in the first place.
