Do I go or not?

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My friend's wife invited me to a happy hour type get together tomorrow. It's your usual twenty something exercise in idiocy: loud music, cheap booze, and nary a coherent conversation in sight. And it's all in this rather obnoxious entertainment district downtown which is a parking nightmare, and full of people, and it. is. totally. not. my. scene. Not to mention, coming off of work, I just wanna go home and relax.

Yet, I also realize that these invitations are rare, and growing rarer. I don't wanna go, but I don't wanna close more doors and windows, even if the opportunity is something I find very unpleasant and distasteful.

Do I go with what I want, or do I suffer for an evening, and chalk it up as an investment for future interactions?

Don't drink, or better yet....just drink something without alcohol.

Go and after 30 min. if you just don't feel like it is your scene, then leave.

It is kinda like my graduation dinner for church.

Everyone is a meat-eater and I'm vegetarian.

I didn't want to go because it would be boring and I wouldn't eat.

I went, and it was fun (after a while)!

You make a good point, but I'm probably leaning toward not going. There are just too many strikes against this thing...I don't know anybody, apart from the friend and his wife meaning I'll be tethered to them. I just simply can't engage with strangers in a place like this. I need to be able to chat, not scream til I'm raw in the throat to some watered down tart who's probably drunk anyways.

Not to mention, it starts at 5:00 but there's nothing to eat apart from some appetizers. f**k that. You're gonna have a get together at 5:00, when people are getting off work, how about something in a dinner first. Sheesh!

Make the effort.

I can tell you that, for me, as I get older, the desire to socialize becomes weaker and weaker and when it does come, I'm less inclined to pursue it.

I'm forcing myself to do more socializing to prevent becoming a total recluse.

Damn, I'm just afraid I'll have to bail after 15 or 30 minutes, and they'll never invite me to ANYTHING again...

yeah make an effort, if you just sit around and smile, nod when called for people tend to be satisfied with that. These things get harder and harder when you stop doing them, then you won't want to go to things you actually do enjoy normally.

The people watching could be fascinating. Or if you're really in distress after awhile there's always the I-ate-a-dodgy-curry-and-its-coming-back-to-haunt-me excuse

Well I wound up bailing. I was driving past the club through downtown on my way from work, and it was a traffic nightmare, because there was some other event going on, since there are a lot of concert venues around. f**k that s**t. I hate crowds, and wish friends could get together someplace manageable. Why the f**k get together when you're just in a crush and it's all sensory overload?

Went home fixed dinner and relaxing, and I'm glad for it.

I end up going to a few of these from time to time. I have even hung out in a parking lot while guys drank beer after a group mountain bike ride. I don't drink. I have learned to show up about 15 minutes late, have an exit plan. (Had a long day, need to go to the gym before work, etc...) rarely use it. Usually once I get there it's OK. There are times I have to bail, sensory overload thing, usually noise. so I have a reason. I also watch when others get ready to leave, that's a great time to say, "Well. I'd better get home also"