That's not 'support' if they all plan on drinking, now is it! I wouldn't be able to allow them to drink in my home if I were not even 2 weeks sober. I know me well enough! lol. But I would protect my sobriety and not allow it in the house in the first place, and I wouldn't go out on the boat either. I just wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't!

I would see if there is at least one of them who will stay at the house with you while the others are out.

I'm sorry, but my family just wouldn't do that to me knowing how I HAVE to be clear of alcohol for a while. I feel for you! I really do!

Do you go to AA? Have phone number so someone that will help you get through this? Anyone?

I'm in Missouri, so if you want a number, you can have mine! (o;

Sorry, I think this sounded a bit harsh. I don't mean to come across like these folks don't care for you, and I know we aren't suppost to expect the world to change just because we are, but still...I so wish they would be more understanding for you, hun. I really know how hard this is going to be for you and I'm so sorry. Is your hubby gonna stay sober with you? That sure would be helpful right there!

Read in your journal that you are AA. You know with the right support, you CAN pull this off!!!!! Yes! You CAN!

Congrats on your sobriety!!!!

I might see if they can do the boat for an hr or 2 without drinking, then have my husband take me back to the marina so I can go home. They can go back out. Our house is only 2 min from marina, so maybe that's an option. I also told him I'd being going to bed very early every day that they're here. I'm usually better off in bed if I feel cravings.

You're not going to like this, but when you're this early in sobriety, you sometimes have to avoid those events. In the early stages, you need to stay sober at all costs or you'll never get the ball rolling. It's good that you told everyone, and maybe that will help. Then again, there's often a "friend" who will say "come on, just have one drink". And when everyone around you seems like they're having fun with it, it's easy to rationalize.

Can you tell I've been through it before? Too many times! And I've fallen too many times. But one year, I avoided a family reunion so that I would not feel pressured to drink. It was the best move at that time. Be very careful okay? Have a plan.

Any ideas for the cruise in 3 weeks? My only saving grace there is the wife of the other couple we 're going with is pregnant and won't be drinking.

Right on! Keep food in your hand at all times. Make it as if you're eating for two also! (o;

You get through this, and do what you did now in 3 weeks! Go in with a Huge plan as mentioned by Dipster, and you'll do this! Want your sobriety more than you just need it!

By the time 3 weeks gets here you will be stronger just by getting through this! Go to LOTS of meetings, read your BB a lot, call your sponsor if you have one, get a sponsor if you don't have one, keep phone numbers with you AT ALL TIMES and USE them!, Food, food, food, food, food, etc.

Many cruises have AA meetings on board.

Once on board look at the events calendar to see if there are any "Friends of Bill W" meetings during the day.

Bring a Big Book and spend time reading.

Think about enjoying your time on the boat, the sun, the breeze, the food, and stop thinking about how you'll have to avoid the booze.

One thing AA teaches is to stop thinking about resisting the bottle and start thinking about the good things that come with being sober, or the things you can do for others. Think about the things you have to be grateful for each day you're sober.

Don't resist the negative but instead follow the positive.

Take a line out of the Big Book and contemplate it for a while, call another alcoholic and think about what they have to say about sobriety.

you have to remember, your alcoholism is your fight - people can be supportative of you by not offering you a drink, but you can't stop others from doing things in their own life- which many people drink. what you need to try and work and focus on is yourself and how you can maintain yourself, control yourself and avoid resistence - if you do not feel you are strong enough to do this, then you need not put yourself in the situation, if they all truly support you, they will understand, BUT you have to remember, when they get off the boat - if they don't leave immediately, they will still be around drinking - and you can't keep running from it.

The cruise the same thing - people will be drinking, but you have to remember you don't have too - you can resist. Positive thinking, not negative thinking.

Peace!

I know a guy that went on a cruise and was as scared as you. He asked them to page any friends of Bill W. And not only found himself with a dozen people around him but found out there was a meeting every night.

Oh Nodp, you just made me cry!!! How Wonderful is this program of AA. Non AAs of course too are the most wonderful ppl in the world!!! The World, I tell ya!!!

Alcoholics/addicts have the biggest hearts in the World! Did I say the World? I meant the WORLD!

I allow my wife's big family (unleast until we sperated) to drink at our house at get togethers but I wouldn't buy the booze. Its always worked out ok. As far as the cruise I wish I was going. But I may be a little off center here. I don't have cravings and when I see people drinking I feel better about me not, the same as with smoking. Hope you find a happy medium.

In looking at your profile I see you do not list AA meetings in treatment. Without it or some sort of support group staying sober is next to impossible. Look up AA or Alcoholics Anonymous in the white pages and find a meeting. Start going. On cruise ship there is always an AA meeting to be found. In those ports of call, there are AA meetings. We are everywhere. Try AA for 90 days. Leave your misery at the door and have a go. After 90 days if you feel AA is not for you, you can always walk back out that door you came in, picking up your misery on the way out. What do you got to lose (besides the compulsion to drink?)