Fears, of whatever nature for me, always require a remarkable working thru process. My addiction mentality never much played out rationally for me and so although intellectually I could see the folly of my projections, it took actual sober emotional experience to build my new lifestyle choices into a practical and doable life. There are distinct differences for me when I'm being courageous and when I'm simply being intelligent against whatever irrational fears, such as a return to drinking. My own forever choice to stay quit wasn't based on keeping or being sober as much as totally based on my refusal to die as a useless, suffering, lousy drunk. So for me, people/places/situations became gradually unimportant as my experience in sobriety came into its own. I in fact yet had deeper non-addiction related fears to rationally deal with in getting back to sanity. Took me awhile, lol.

Yeah okay, my belief statement wasn't about the quality of your confidence in your own abstinence. I was making clear my own affirmations of my understanding of your experiences. Cheers. :)

Nice one Dean. Just concentrate on the good feeling of being in total control of your life, being able to do what you want and when you want, without worrying about Alcohol. :You_Rock_

My first home group in Johnson City TN had an old-timer who kept a stocked bar for entertaining. Not many followed his lead but back then I was ok with my wife keeping a six of Michelob in the fridge (it took her sometimes 2 weeks to drink it). I was 29 back then and there were other younger members that wanted to have fun sober so we started an activity committee and did a float trip, a couple good concerts and midnite bowling. Lotsa drunks at all these places but we traveled as a sober unit and it worked well. It is not my habit to hang with drunks--The dialogue is too predictable and circular.