Marmitist

Hi everyone. I recently quit drinking, and I have no life!

Well, let me clarify a bit... I only had a few friends in the first place, and they all drink, and I just don't want to be around drunk people anymore.

I live in a college town where the drinking culture is so prevalent that even the University History Club meets in a bar! I'm not into athletics, and I'm especially disinterested in hanging around AA or NA meetings.

All of my classmates / coworkers drink, and I don't like to approach strangers without having been introduced. In fact, shyness is one of the things that alcohol used to mitigate, but I digress...

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could make some non-drinking friends?

TheEnd

You don't like athletics, NA or AA, which I can understand.....I guess we narrowed down what you don't like, find out what you do like and then go from there...........

Marmitist

That's the thing, the only things that I used to do involved drinking at friends houses or at bars. I don't have any hobbies or interests outside of those things. I like to read, but boring old non-fiction stuff so I don't think I'd be much fun at a book club.

I don't have TV, I hate going to the movies, and I don't drive, so finding things to do in another city is out.

Any ideas?

TheEnd

You're just going to have to expand your horizons and become more open to the things you don't like to do. Who knows, maybe you don't like those things because you thought you were suppossed to be in bar drinking and never imagined yourself doing something else. I think as you get more sober time under your belt you will be more open to new ideas.....

kiki5711

What kind of work do you do?

Marmitist

I'm a customer relations representative for an office supply company.

lildawg

Marmitist - we have a lot in common. I don't like about the same things you don't like, and nothing I like to do translates into social activity.

That means you're going to have to get creative.

I'd check around, since it's a university town, and see if there is a non-fiction book club.

You might consider volunteering at your local public library, your local zoo, or your local humane society.

If you think you'd like working with people, contact your local adult learning center and see if you can volunteer there helping other adults learn to read.

You'd meet other people in all these situations. Some will be drinkers; some not. The only place you're going to be guaranteed to meet non-drinkers is probably going to be AA.

Ainslie

It could be a good time to learn to drive - not saying youll make lots of friends in the process, but once you can drive and can obtain a car things will be easier and lots of opportunities will open up....having your own personal transport is freedom. And the money you save from drinking could go towards lessons

kiki5711

I'm in customer service too, for long distance co. for Serbo/Croatian/Bosnian customers.

You remind me of one of my daughters. I ask her what do you want to do? She says I dunno! Do you want to go somewhere? I'm not sure! Do you want to go to school and get a degree in something? No, too much studying!

CarolD

Welcome....

I found AA to be an awesome adventure and full of interesting
new sober friends.
You might want to check it out at some point.

This list ..while not exactly matching your question...might give
you ideas. It was compiled by our SR members....

151 things to do instead of drinking

1. Read a book
2. Take a walk
3. Play a musical instrument
4. Knit
5. Clean your closets
6. Research your genealogy
7. Cook a gourmet dinner
8. Write an article for your local newspaper
9. Go take some pictures
10. Clean the mildew in your bathroom
11. Start writing that book you've been planning
12. Plan a flower garden
13. Plant a veggie garden
14. Play with a pet
15. Read to a child
16. Visit someone in an old folks' home
17. Watch a news special on TV
18. Set up a family budget
19. Make a web site
20. Take up archery
21. Exercise
22. Go to an online recovery meeting
23. Surf the internet
24. Call your mom
25. Learn a foreign language
26. Write a poem
27. Play golf
28. Take a bubble bath
29. Draw
30. Teach a parakeet to whistle
31. Take a nap
32. Listen to music
33. Paint
34. Clean your desk
35. Start a stamp collection
36. Go window shopping
37. Browse in a book store
38. Go to an art gallery
39. Go for a drive
40. Paint a room
41. Watch the clouds go by
42. Play darts
43. Do target shooting
44. Do home repairs
45. Clean your garage
46. Sort your photographs
47. Make a scrapbook
48. Climb a tree
49. Plant a tree
50. Make marmalade
51. Make a list of things to do
52. Write a letter to the editor
53. Volunteer somewhere
54. Take a hike
55. Take a college class
56. Try yoga
57. Meditate
58. Get a massage
59. Make fruit smoothies
60. Bake cookies
61. Do a crossword puzzle
62. Go to the gym
63. Plant a color bowl
64. Sharpen your pruning tools
65. Change your engine oil
66. Sew
67. Groom your dog
68. Go see a play
69. Write a sonnet
70. Sort your recipes
71. Play solitaire
72. Go bird watching
73. Write a letter to a friend
74. Read a poetry book
75. Repot your houseplants
76. Go to a movie
77. Mow your lawn
78. Put up (or take down) your Christmas lights
79. Make pickles
80. Go jogging
81. Watch sitcoms
82. Plan menus for a diet
83. Do a jigsaw puzzle
84. Play chess
85. Write a country-western song
86. Watch a video
87. Go for a bike ride
88. Plant an herb garden
89. Start an online journal
90. Dye your hair
91. Go to a restaurant
92. Lift weights
93. Bake some bread
94. Learn a martial art
95. Polish the furniture
96. Make a flower arrangement
97. Read the newspaper
98. Start some seeds
99. Sort your magazines
100. Do some laundry.
111. Take a nature walk
112. Play with your kids
113. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
114. Volunteer at a school
115. Pick up garbage in a park
116. Tickle your kids
117. Play basketball
118. Volunteer at an animal shelter
119. Read to a child or pet
120. Sign up for obedience training with your dog
121. Take a walk and pick up litter you see on the way
122. Spend time at the library
123. Sort all your digital photos and make an album to print for holiday gifts to family.
124. Help your kid organize his closet.
125. Figure out the melody and chords to your current favorite tune on the piano.
126. Practice your holiday cookie recipes
127. Make crackers from scratch (that one didn't go so well).
128. Make tortillas from scratch (better).
129. Reread a book you haven't read for years.
130. Tango
131. Learn about someone else’s religion.
132. Reread one of your college textbooks.
133. Key out a wildflower.
134. Do your nails.
135. Do word puzzles.
136. Play a board game.
137. Burn CD’s of some of your favorite music for a friend.
138. Plant a bonsai.
139. Play Mad Libs.
140. Speak only in heroic couplets for an hour.
141. Read poetry online.
142. Ride a stationary bicycle.
143. Set up a domino topple.
144. Play backgammon.
145. Build a house of cards
146. Make an entry in Wikipedia.
147. Read a world almanac.
148. Publish a family newsletter.
149. Throw cards at a hat.
150 Go to bed
Update...July 1010
151 Start a Blog

All my best....hope you find something to be involved with.

MeAndOnlyMe

I'm pretty sure this is on Carol's list but I personally, without friend or family, would take some free time as an opportunity to learn a non-native language. There are plenty of free online options (BBC and LiveMocha come to mind) as well as paid software or classes - you get to do it on your terms. Not sure if this is something you'd be interested in but I could love to become conversational in a couple of additional languages.

Best whatever you do.