# 5 years sober **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302 "2009-03-22T00:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/21 "2009-03-22T20:17:38Z")
Congratulations! My dad just celebrated 35 years! I am proud of both of you! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/22 "2009-03-22T20:59:42Z")
slee/Eric Huge respect. Happy day. WordMan/Scott ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/23 "2009-03-23T02:43:37Z")
I’d like to thank you, as someone who has been affected by someone who became addicted. You have no idea how each YEAR you remain clean affects those that love you. We prayed for a single day, not thinking it would ever be seen. And you stand before us, 5 YEARS. Thank you, once for every day. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/24 "2009-03-23T03:44:08Z")
That is just wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/25 "2009-03-23T13:28:01Z")
Congrats, man! My 5 years is sometime next month. Sure seems like a long time. Hard to remember what it was like to drink as much as I did for so long. And it gets ever so much easier to say no to the urges, which come ever less often. Would be nice if they completely went away, tho. At the drop of a hat I’d love to get shitfaced this very moment, 8:30 on a Monday morning… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/26 "2009-03-23T15:46:21Z")
Thanks to you all. I’m just way happy to be alive. Slee ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/27 "2009-03-23T17:16:42Z")
Congratulations!🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/28 "2009-03-23T17:21:40Z")
Congratulations! Living sober is a wonderful thing. 🙂 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/29 "2009-03-24T06:02:47Z")
Congrats! And here’s to the next 24 hours… ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/30 "2009-03-24T07:04:05Z")
You know, I never started counting the days but maybe I should. I’ve mentioned several times how for reasons that are not quite clear, I’ve lost virtually all my desire for alcohol. Medication side effects are partly responsible, but my habit had been so deeply engrained before I started the med, that I don’t think it can be wholly to blame–err–credit! I never swore off, nor did I formally quit. I think I can honestly say I never had a bottoming-out or personal disaster for which alcohol was primarily responsible, although in hindsight I did drink too much. But now, the thought of drinking is unpleasant in the way that, during my drinking days, only happened on days when I was hung over. I would like to want it more than I do; a glass of wine once a week, or even once a day, wouldn’t harm me and might even be beneficial. But I can’t even finish one. I could still see myself at something like a wine tasting, where you just get a finger of wine with each variety. But that’s about all I could handle now. On edit: I’m sorry I forgot–but heartfelt congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/31 "2009-03-24T12:24:24Z")
Congrats, **sleestak**! I just celebrated 3 yrs clean and sober on the 8th of this month, and I agree that life is grand having walked out the far side (just for today). Keep on keeping on. I’ve always thought one of the most spiritually rewarding things you can do on your anniversary is to spend true quality time with loved ones that were previously denied your involvement. Thank you for coming back over and over and showing us that it does work. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/32 "2009-03-24T12:26:30Z")
Very well done. 🆒 You’ve also saved money - what are you going to spend it on?! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/33 "2009-03-24T14:10:38Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Very well done. 🆒 > > You’ve also saved money - what are you going to spend it on?! I think our boy \*\*slee \*\*got all family on us - he bought a house a few months ago…actually, sir, given all the economic weirdness, I hope that is going okay for you… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/34 "2009-03-24T14:17:11Z")
Just out of curiousity, what makes sober life so “amazing”? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/35 "2009-03-24T16:00:15Z")
Being present enough to realize it’s happening at all? 😉 For me, it’s having real relationships, real friends, the ability to go anywhere and do anything I want without fear, no more feelings of powerlessness and despair, laughing **a lot** , being given a second chance to live a life that I cherish. I am happy, joyous and free today- never could say that before… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/36 "2009-03-24T16:37:56Z")
Enjoy your gift of sobriety today! ODAAT ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/37 "2009-03-24T17:00:47Z")
It’s threads like this that help me, for whom drinking or not drinking alcohol isn’t a problem, realise how much of a problem it can be for some people. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/38 "2009-03-24T23:31:02Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Just out of curiousity, what makes sober life so “amazing”? Well, there is not waking up hung over every day. And being able to keep a job. Then there is not being homeless, that is an added bonus. Also, having family members and friends who actually like being around you because you are no longer a walking nightmare that causes great harm to those you care about most. Not getting arrested is another thing that I don’t miss all that much. Oh, and the week or two of full body pain from totalling a car while loaded, don’t miss that much at all (or the two or three days of wondering if you killed someone while you watch the nightly news and read the paper hoping you only hurt yourself). On top of that, the continous, all encompassing feeling that you _must find a drink_ NOW\*\* is gone. So is the utter dispair. A last bit that is kinda nice, being able to \*actually \*remember what you did the previous night. There is more, but I don’t have the time to list it all. Slee ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/39 "2009-03-24T23:51:46Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > It’s threads like this that help me, for whom drinking or not drinking alcohol isn’t a problem, realise how much of a problem it can be for some people. I think it’s a hard concept to grasp. For people like us (I presume) alchohol is something that enhances life. A couple beers after work with a close friend. Some good wine with dinner. Crazy Mexican margharita night with the girlfriend. For other people, they can’t control themselves and it results in lost jobs, or a lot of pain and suffering. I have to imagine staying completely sober must be tough since it seems like booze is so ingrained in just about everything. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302/40 "2009-03-25T02:08:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I think our boy \*\*slee \*\*got all family on us - he bought a house a few months ago…actually, sir, given all the economic weirdness, I hope that is going okay for you… We are golden. Unlike a bunch of people, I actually bought a house I can afford\*. Also, unlike a lot of people I have pretty good job security. The casino is doing fine and, being in IT, I don’t get laid off unless they go out of business. The servers gotta run… I am probably a bit upside down on the house, but not a huge amount, I bought on the downside thankfully. In any case, I am not worried about it because we are planning to be in this house for ~10 years or so. Now if I can just finish landscaping the backyard. Right now it is dirt. I am about 1/3rd of the way through installing a drip system. Digging sucks. Slee \*My mortgage broker offered me double what I thought I could afford. Unlike a whole lot of people, I went with what I could afford. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-years-sober/490302.md?page=3)