When did you stop partying?

In My Humble Opinion
21

I’m 25, and I go to clubs much less frequently than I used to. I still go out with my friends, but we tend to go to coffee houses or quiet bars. I do have a weekly standing date at the local pub for Trivia Night.

I used to go to plenty of clubs and big parties, but now I find that I’d rather talk with my friends. When I was in college, there was plenty of time for all-night bull sessions, heart-to-hearts, etc. Now I’m married, work full-time, don’t live in the dorms, etc., and I spend less time with my friends in general. I’d rather spend my limited time with them connecting and communicating rather than shakin’ my groove thang. I still love dancing and a good party, but those happen maybe 4-5 times a year, instead of 4-5 times a month.

22

I’m another one who isn’t into the whole jam-packed, sweaty nightclub scene, but I have always known how to have a good time with some friends, beers, a jukebox, and a pool table. I stopped when I was about 22 or so because I married a very conservative woman. I started again when we separated. Now I’ve got myself a good lady who likes the party scene, but we’re in our mid thirties, there are kids… etc etc. We don’t go out much now, and I’m quite happy with that state of affairs. I think I’ll always be able to feel at home in a friendly, lively pub though.

23

about seven years ago after finally getting sick of bars and dating…i miss a good bash but ahhhh…seen one seen em all

24

I became a party beast around the time I got my driver’s license – at fifteen.

I left home at seventeen to go to college, and became even more of a party beast, because now I didn’t have to worry about waking up the folks when I came home, or my parents finding out what I’d been up to.

I spent much of my freshman and sophomore years of college upside down on beer and dope, and have mined this period of my life for more than a few funny stories I have related here on the SDMB. I mean, it was the early eighties. Hell, I thought the film “Animal House” was exactly how college ought to be, and I was having much too much fun to learn anything from what happened to John Belushi.

I gave everything up when I was twenty, because I got scared that I might be an alcoholic. I had already realized I was addicted to methamphetamines, and giving those up was a necessary thing (and frankly rather nightmarish).

At 23, having been clean for several years, I decided I wasn’t an alcoholic or a dope addict, and jumped back into the lifestyle with gusto… but it wasn’t the same. I’d grown up somewhat. Times were changing. The drinking age had gone from 18 to 21, for one thing, and I was noticing that people who were just now beginning to be able to drink legally… didn’t do it very RESPONSIBLY. In my day, you’d either learned as a teener, or gotten yourself killed, or simply didn’t drink. Nowadays, you have 21-year-olds who get smashed and silly and stupid the way eighteen-year-olds did in my day.

The final straw came when I had the opportunity to try some LSD for the first time in four years… and had an acid trip that was pretty much a complete rerun of one I’d had in 1982.

…and so, at age 26, I pretty much gave up on drugs altogether. Penalties were stiffer, and they simply weren’t as socially acceptable as they’d been ten years earlier. I didn’t give up drinking, not completely, but I’d lost my taste for beer… and consequently didn’t drink anywhere near as much as I had when I’d been younger.

I guess you could say I just outgrew it all.

25

Last week, when I ran out.

26

I’m 23 and I’m slightly slowing down. I think I’m pretty typical for my age group and demographic.

The drinking age being 18 here, I was very into the pubbing/clubbing scene early on. Up until maybe 2 years ago, it was unthinkable for me to drive at night time on a weekend, because doing so would preclude me from getting drunk. Nowadays, I’m quite happy to go out to a pub without getting blitzed. I’m able enjoy hanging out at a place with friends: just sitting, enjoying a quiet pint or glass of red and talking shit. I don’t go to as many house parties as I used to – just those held by actual friends, rather than “friends of friends”.

There’s a few popular pubs that I used to regularly frequent which I won’t even go near these days. I’m heartily sick of pushing my way through a drunk crowd of 18-20 year olds and breathing cigarette air. I’m also sick of shitty live cover bands: I’ve heard all the popular covers played (badly) 1000 times before and they’ve well lost their appeal.

OTOH, I’m still pretty into seeing live, original music. I go to concerts regularly. I also go to more nightclubs very late at night, when the drunken masses have gone home or passed out. If my mates and I are planning on having a “big night” these days, we’re not inclined to leave the house until close to midnight. Where I am now, it’s far more tolerable to hang out at a groovy late-night club with a largely docile, friendly crowd than at a noisy, smelly, pub with drunks and bad music.

27

Never did it…didn’t see the point. I can have alot more fun sober and not smelling gross. (Single and 30 by the way)

28

this weekend I stopped at 5am Monday morning… I’ll do better next weekend.

29

Hmmm…I thought I had quit, but compared to some of y’all I’m still in the fast lane. You should’ve been w/ me when I was in my 20’s or even my 30’s for that matter. :smiley:

30

As a 30 year old New Yorker (who apparently can pass himself off as a 20 year old), I still go out whenever I can. Going out consists of meeting a bunch of friends at a bar or lounge. Hanging out there for a few hours until everyone shows up. Going to a diferent bar or club. Maybe getting some late night food. Sometimes going to a bar where the bartender lets us drink till 7:00 am. This past weekend some friends came into town and we litterally went to bed as the sun was coming up.

I am getting a little bored of it though. A lot of the magic of “going out” has worn off. It gets harder and harder to get a good bunch of people to go out as people get married or move around the country. We try to avoid places that are too crowded with underage kids. There’s less crazy antics since we are all getting a little more mature. I tend not to drink myself stupid anymore.

31

Who said there’s a point at which I need to stop? :eek:

32

I’ve never really liked big parties, but I do go out to clubs 1 to 4 times a month. I’m married, but no kids yet, and I don’t think I’ll slow down for a while, at least.

I don’t usually drink at clubs. I just dance- it’s cheaper! Oh, yes, I’m 24.

33

I’m 26. I started to slow down around age 24. The club/bar scene was getting old. I still go to parties especially when there’s a challenge like a contest or I only know one person. When I was 24, a bunch of close friends got married. So I lost four friends to hang out with. Stupid, sexy marriage…

34

I don’t drink “til u drop” anymore either. MoF you’ll rarely see me drunk at all (tolerance levels) But those around me esp. the ones who try and drink tequila w/ me <shakes head> very amusing usually.

My wife likes the local karioki(sp?) anyway it’s terrible but often funny. (I’m an old head banger)
My idea of a good time- I had a party last week though :smiley: coolers of free beer and bottles of tequila w/ margaritas. BBQ’d lots of meat, corn and beans etc.
Good music all night and out in the woods, my place is on a hill in the middle of a pine thicket (plenty of shade and a breeze)

The week before w/ a live band. :wink:

35

I don’t go to bars to hang out. I go to see music when there’s somebody I want to see. I party at home. I’m married w/ 2 small children, 40 yo.

36

I’m 33 and never really went to clubs. Look like a moron on the dancefloor so just avoided them. Still go out 5 or 6 nights a week though to do something. Have a beer with amigos, movie, meal or something like that.

37

I lived a very sheltered life at home with my parents so when I hit college I took advantage. I went out to clubs Thursday through Saturday nights…every week…no exceptions. Rain, snow, sun…we were at the clubs or at a party.

We had a blast and I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t remember a lot of it…but that’s another story… :wink:

Then came a baby and marriage at 21. I stopped going out completely because I had this little life I was responsible for.

When I divorced at 22 I went out a few times but I kept thinking about the little one at home and who would he depend on if anything happened to me. (I wasn’t always the most responsible drinker) so I stopped again.

Now that I am remarried, have another baby and much more responsible, I still like to go out with some old friends from college once in a blue moon. But it isn’t the same.

I can’t stay up late like I once did. I can’t drink as much as I once did (and that’s a GOOD thing) and I find myself wanting to go up to these little girls in clubs and pull up their blouses and pull down their skirts (not like THAT! But make the fabric somehow stretch to a longer length).

I went out a few weeks ago with my old roomate and I was so excited to be out. We hit three different clubs and by the third one I was so bored that I actually looked at her and said, “It is so damn loud in here…I think I’m ready to turn in.” She smiled and nodded and we left. We got in the car and both of us started cracking up at how “old” we have become at 28.

It’s all about moderation. I feel I can still go out with my friends on occasion and not be a horrid mother or a bad person.

38

I don’t think you “need” to stop. What happens is:

-everyone starts looking a lot younger than you (as I mentioned, not a problem yet)

-because of work, you don’t have time or energy to go out as much (on the other hand, you may take a job that drives you to drink and party MORE)

-you get married and have kids

-you are no longer “in touch” with the younger crowd (music, clothes, etc)

-your friends move, get married, etc so you don’t have a crew to hang out with any more

-it get’s boring (same conversations with the same people in the same crowded bars)

Basically you don’t end up stopping because you have to. It just sorta fades to a less important part of your life.