I think if you're going to be around drinkers and partying types a good plan is not only essential but mandatory.
It's got to be more than 'gee I hope I don't drink'.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...very-plan.html
Here are some great ideas for plans:
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ery-plans.html
I had to be ready for things like people wanting me to drink, people asking me why I'm not drinking, people getting annoyed they bought a drink for me and I won't drink it, me wanting to drink, me getting annoyed I can't drink like everyone else....what to do with that thought that 'oh well a sip/one glass/two glasses won't hurt.'
Each of those scenarios needs a good strategy.
I understand now that my recovery is the bedrock for everything else good in my life - it's the axle on which my wheel turns.
Its that fundamental and that serious.
If you can't find time for it, you're basically kidding yourself anything's going to change.
Ask me how I know...
I had to remember that it wasn't the last drink that lost me my career, it was actually the first one.
D