As most of you know, I live by with a delightful chocolate lab named Claire.  This means that by non-dog-person standards, I live alone.  Or at least without any other substantial companionship like a partner or a roommate.  Personally, I like it this way; living alone is much easier than forging a temporary relationship with a stranger and I can walk around without pants on if I so choose.  I get to eat what I want (when I want) with little regard for socially mandated mealtimes.  It’s very freeing.  As much as I’m a person of routine though I still sort of yearn for family dinner, so I try to eat between 6 and 7 (so I can watch jeopardy) and have an evening break before I dig into my “pre bedtime work.”

This leads to an interesting conundrum.  At home, the hours between 6 and 7 were Chris and Amanda social time.  Usually I’d be cooking or we’d be planning where to go if we were going out and Chris would be readying the table and making drinks, then we’d sit down, eat, talk, and have some connect-time.  I like an evening drink and I don’t quite know how to drink one (or two!) while living without other humans.

I can hardly share a T&T with the dog and I feel a little silly drinking one by myself.  Notably that doesn’t stop me from doing it, I found a bottle of “collins mix” at the grocery store today and have been enjoying it greatly.  My drink of choice is strong on the gin [or vodka] and light and limey and fizzy — I’m a fan.  But then again, I’m here alone and part of me says “oh no, you shouldn’t drink alone, that’s an indication of a problem.”

I’m inclined to disregard that part of me though, because I am a grown up, I drink one drink occasionally, and I don’t really know anyone around here well enough to get together for happy hour.  Let’s also note that Massachusetts liquor laws essentially forbid happy hour (see 204 CMR 4.00) — or the discounting of alcohol to any population at any time.  But on the flip side, I do now live in a state where wine and beer are available in the grocery store and I live across from a liquor store so I’m no longer bound by Pennsylvania’s weirdness that doesn’t let wine and vodka be sold in the same store (and generally requires that beer be purchased by the case — since I lived too far away from anywhere with the mixed six pack).

So I have a new ability to procure my alcohol of choice and a great taboo against drinking it.  Until I can make friends and drink it socially that is.  I’m torn.  I don’t want to do anything bad, but a before dinner drink is a little piece of home to me.  I think I’m going to keep drinking it — at least for now.  Perhaps it will be replaced in the future with a social drink in Amherst after my 4-6:30pm class?

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