What Being the Only Sober Person on a Group (Drinking) Vacation Taught Me
It Felt Like Unlocking a Superpower
A few weeks ago, I went on a little week-end gateway to the lively city of New Orleans with my partner and a group of friends.
Now, what would you expect from a bunch of people in their late 20s/early 30s visiting this warm and fun city over Halloween?
Without stretching your imagination too far, you’d probably picture alcohol as the star of the show.
We had a Halloween pub crawl tour planned, as well as brunches, and dinners.
It sounded like a thrilling adventure in the making!
However, just a few days before our departure, I fell ill and found myself on antibiotics for the entire duration of the trip.
It goes without saying, medicines equaled no alcohol.
After the initial disappointment, I soon shifted my focus towards my recovery.
As an added silver lining, I realized that abstaining from alcohol meant saving some money, which was particularly helpful given my recent decision to take a little career break.
To my surprise, my choice to abstain from drinking seemed to baffle my companions.
You don’t drink, and as a woman in your fertile years, everyone assumes you are pregnant.
Com’ on, seriously?
Upon our arrival in New Orleans, we joined our friends who were already a few drinks in, well into the spirit of the city.
When they noticed I was sticking to water, I felt scrutinized.
It wasn’t long before I discovered that, when I mentioned that I had considered canceling my reservation for the pub crawl due to the fact that I couldn’t drink alcohol to a member of the group two days prior, nobody believed me.
In their minds, it was a clear sign of pregnancy.
Thankfully, that assumption waned as the days passed by.
As I navigated my vacation with my newfound sobriety, I began to experience some incredible benefits.
I found myself being the first one on the dance floor and danced for hours on end.
My energy levels were through the roof, and I was always the one suggesting we walk back to our accommodations instead of taking an Uber.
I would also wake up in the morning in a blissful state, ready to explore.
It might sound silly, but despite my habit of moderating my alcohol intake in the last year or so, I can’t recall a single instance in my life when I was in a party situation for multiple days and didn’t have at least one beer.
Final thoughts
In the end, my unexpected experience as the only sober person on a group vacation in a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife was an interesting journey to say the least.
As I fully accepted my newfound sobriety (even if temporary), I uncovered what it meant to rely on your natural energy to party, something I had never experienced before, as I had rarely not drunk at least a beer when hanging out at night.
I became the life of the party, dancing with unstoppable energy and leading the way back to our accommodations.
This adventure taught me that having fun at night doesn’t always require a drink in hand, and I’m definitely intrigued to try it again.
Have you had any experience of being sober in circumstances where drinking is the norm?
