# I broke 12.5 years of sobriety. (Update) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 25, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908 "2011-01-25T11:46:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/41 "2011-01-26T02:40:01Z")
Agreed. There certainly is a whole lot going on in his life. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/42 "2011-01-26T04:41:11Z")
Reading this thread has given me a newfound appreciation for the wonders of a good high school education, and for the relative mundanity that permeates my life in comparison to yours. Drama is such a waste of time, and you’re absolutely mired in it OP. Worse, you seem to enjoy that fact. I can see you being a happy subject of a reality television show… there’s a problem with that mentality which has NOTHING to do with booze. I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with consuming liquor in the amount the OP professes. But I think he has a strong penchant for the overly dramatic, which regardless of whether he does or does not drink is not a good thing. Dramatic parenting creates dramatic children. Do we really want more aspiring Kardashians in the world? No. I don’t have any more reason for posting this reply than you had for posting the OP. But I am thoroughly, THOROUGHLY glad that the world I inhabit has absolutely no crossover with the world you inhabit. I mean, other than maybe geographical. I have several drama queens and kings for neighbors; thankfully, as long as I keep my window closed I don’t have to hear their bullshit. If I had any advice for you, OP, you should obtain more education and endeavor to rise above your myopic, completely inward-focused outlook (inlook?lol) on life. There is far more to life than being that creepy old guy hanging with sweet young thangs in the club. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/43 "2011-01-26T06:50:43Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Reading this thread has given me a newfound appreciation for the wonders of a good high school education, and for the relative mundanity that permeates my life in comparison to yours. Drama is such a waste of time, and you’re absolutely mired in it OP. Worse, you seem to enjoy that fact. I can see you being a happy subject of a reality television show… there’s a problem with that mentality which has NOTHING to do with booze. Dude, I have an excellent education. I’d love to have had a year that I can describe as this: > [@fifty-six](#): > > I have had the most fantastic, stimulating, gut wrenching, hard, over the top fun, scary, fitful, liberating year of my life. New friends new life, new business. I write now. I suck at grammar and spelling because I did not goto high school but with extra diligence I can make stories happen. Most of those adjectives are good. To the OP, were you being honest with yourself when you said the above? Moreover, can you keep it up? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/44 "2011-01-26T13:19:28Z")
Not an expert, but did recently take a trip to Alaska and wanted to say that living in a waterless cabin is in no way unusual or a sign of squalor. Just reflects the difficulty of maintaining water service in an extreme climate. And tho there appeared to be any number of end-of-the-road losers, there also seemed to be no shortage of people who simply embraced what many in te 48 might consider unconventional lifestyles. And if there were an epicenter for Alaskan “free-spirits”, it could well be Homer. Just saying, I was impressed at how different so many aspects of Alaskan life were from what I was used to living and traveling extensively through the lower 48. I’m wondering if the folk who are on the OP as a deadbeat would be as critical if he were still sober? I’m not sure I see how he is hurting his kids - or anyone else (other than perhaps some CC companies and his own credit rating.) The guy sounds happy, which puts him ahead of a whole bunch of people I encounter. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/45 "2011-01-26T16:01:11Z")
I was only focusing on the alcohol, and as long it is not a problem, I’d guess he is good to go. But I have my doubts about that one niggling little issue… ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/46 "2011-01-26T16:06:48Z")
As soon as I read the OP I thought: “All aboard the Judgemental Train! Toot-toot!” and the Dopers as usual did not fail to climb on. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/47 "2011-01-26T16:43:44Z")
Its kind of like reading a post from the Marlboro Man. Choppin’ wood, bangin’ chicks, hauling water, all in the ruffest tuffest part of the world! I dunno. So this guy is kind of rough around the edges, has bad dad secrets that the kids shouldn’t get too curious about. One of those all-American character-types. We hardly expect everyone to be straight-up normal. I think if you stay out of jail, don’t ruin your health or get shot by a jealous woman, you ought to be all right. Maybe be prepared for another rinse-and-repeat of some kind of alcohol therapy if/when it takes over again. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/48 "2011-01-26T16:54:36Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Dramatic parenting creates dramatic children. Do we really want more aspiring Kardashians in the world? No. I don’t know that dramatic parenting does necessarily create dramatic children. I think sometimes it creates kids who have no tolerance for or wish to engage in drama at all. Anyhow, OP, I wish you well. Your previous threads, especially the Prisoner one, showed me that you’ve had a tough row to hoe at times. It’s not my place to assume at all that I know how this story ends. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/49 "2011-01-26T17:32:39Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > As soon as I read the OP I thought: “All aboard the Judgemental Train! Toot-toot!” and the Dopers as usual did not fail to climb on. :rolleyes: If you don’t want to be judged, then don’t post. And as for the drinking part, someone already pointed out that while he’s deeply in debt, he seems to have plenty of money for booze. If that’s being “aboard the Judgemental Train” then here’s my ticket. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/50 "2011-01-26T17:53:33Z")
[Is this the OP?](http://homernews.com/stories/011911/business_tmedd.shtml) If you’re running a taco truck in Alaska, why the fuck not drink, smoke pot and hang out with women half your age? It’s not like you have to get up early to perform surgury in the morning. I would watch your debt though. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/51 "2011-01-26T18:22:11Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I think if you stay out of jail, don’t ruin your health or get shot by a jealous woman, you ought to be all right. Maybe be prepared for another rinse-and-repeat of some kind of alcohol therapy if/when it takes over again. I like this! 🆒 **msmith** - if you search a little further, you can find his pic. Hell, simply VACATIONING in Alaska was almost enough to drive me to drink! 😛 ---
**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:** [January 26, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/52 "2011-01-26T19:29:05Z")
**Moderator comment** Participants in this thread are within their rights to judge the OP, but let’s try to remain civil. People do tend to get very worked up about drinking, not drinking, stopping drinking, and resuming drinking; and about what methods are best for each of those. Throw in the factor of poor financial choices and it’s a tinderbox. Judge if you must, but don’t descend to crude aspersions of character. No participant or participants have been singled out for modding. ---
**Author:** ![eno801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@eno801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eno801)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/53 "2011-01-26T21:31:58Z")
yeah if the debt is some crazy amount that $100 bucks a month is probably not going to make a dent in it. Probably not even pay the interest. It would just be really throwing money away. Hell if it’s between him and the kids staying above water screw the Credit Card companies. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/54 "2011-01-26T22:08:45Z")
From a post about your early days: > [@Ask The Former Prisoner](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-former-prisoner/425888/61): > > …I started drinking lightly while in Texas. Within 6 months I was doing coke and got a DWI… From four years ago: > [@everyting I aways wanted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everyting-i-aways-wanted/367443/1): > > OK here is is in short. > After 8 years of sobriety and getting my life back on track I just discovered that I have everything I always wanted and I am mostly the person I aways wanted to be. > > I have several successful stimulating businesses, two wonderful children that I could not be prouder of, a wonderful marriage, I live in a great place, I have everything I need and most of what I want, I am healthy and like myself. > > All of this dawned on my about a month ago. I think I sensed it coming because I started to feel a bit anxious. So I quit smoking about a month ago and started working out and opened up discussions with my wife about some issues we were not talking about. All of this went with out hitch. > > I am not rich by American standards I just do not have a desire of “things” much. You see I spent the last 8 years of my life trying to put all the pieces of my life back together and be a “normal” person again. **For 20 years I was either trying to get drugs or trying to get off them. I am done with that now and I found my self this month at the top of the ladder I set up for myself** … (Bolding mine) It’s so easy for things to turn bad when people who’ve had substance abuse issues in the past try to moderate your drinking. How will you be able to keep it under control? You were happy when you were sober, too. It just seems a whole lot wiser to not gamble with addictions. You can keep your women while you’re sober, you know. ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/55 "2011-01-28T07:58:15Z")
I just wanted to post to say that a few days ago, I was thinking about \*\*fifty-six’s \*\*original post on this subject. I private messaged him and told him that I had thought about the post several times since he had posted it, and wondered how he was getting along. He responded that he had been thinking of updating and then he did. I mention it only in response to the “why did you post this?” messages. Maybe he was thinking about it and my message encouraged him to do so. I appreciate that he did so, as obviously I am not the only one who wanted to know how he was doing. I think he has been very non-defensive in his answers to some of the posts, which I think means something. I am pulling for you, **fifty-six**. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/56 "2011-01-29T04:33:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > …Alaska is full of end-of-the-roaders living in shacks and dodging responsibility. Good to hear my retirement plan is not just a pipe dream. ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908/57 "2011-02-02T07:58:55Z")
Thanks for the replies. As far as I am concerned everyone posting in this thread is right in general. I will consider with great heart and with due respect all input. The next update be it weeks or years will be placed in the pit. After much consideration I feel that is where it should be. Moderation is not what this is about. Or is it? Never hesitate to call me out. Thanks to keeping up a great diverse intelligent meeting place all. Mike… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-broke-12-5-years-of-sobriety-update/568908.md?page=2)