Ooooh shit, man, I got my first of many SLAP accounts in like 99 or 2001, maybe earlier with those OG boards with that shithead YMHY (who I only remember because I was a kid and he gave me endless shit), and it's be a long, long time since I'm back from lurking hard, but this topic got me.
I stopped drinking alcohol just over 4 years ago and it's been a journey and a half. Due to the nature of the work I've done, I could drink a few beers all day and, excluding my physical and mental well being, get by fine enough. Then, when we settled down for the night, ate a little food, the beers starting getting crushed. It was always cases of Lagunitas IPA, Sculpin Grapefruit, or Racer 5. From here, a few night a week anyways, it went to the bar or whatever, and another substance was usually introduced and I'd be sitting in some shithole bar until 130am, doing nothing interesting or beneficial.
Then one day, following a weekend long outdoor craft beer festival, where I did a few other drugs, and drank a bloody maria for breakfast on the last day, feeling NOTHING, I decided it was time to lay off for a month. Well, in that first month I found myself back in the drunkest place I'd ever lived/worked, I'm talking my work partner drinking a pint of gin before 7am and breaking out the fire ball after his "nap." I didn't know if I'd make it through, but i figured I'd work harder sober no matter how challenging it was to not drinking a dank IPA while working the saw or splitting wood...
Then came the night of the DMT breakthrough. Sitting around the fire, Yolla Bollies in the distance, I ripped the Deemster bowl and took a trip into hyperspace. There was no cognitive breakthrough but upon returning to ground I knew that I no longer needed/wanted alcohol in my life. Now, this isn't to say I'm not usually thirsty and don't want a brew, but I know it's no good for me, so I stay away.
It got hard when I was laid up with a neck injury, then a low back injury, leaving me unable to skate, ride a bike, work manual labor, or practice yoga, and I had a few bouts messing with some pharmies, but all told, it's been a fucking sweet experience and one of the best things I've done for myself. I learned some serious job skills, saved hella cheddar, the body is healing, and, although some of changed and been dropped, my relationships are better, stronger and more positive.
Y'all do what y'all gotta do but it's possible to get sober and find better, more interesting shit to do. The boredom is a killer for the first year, then year 2 feels over confident, after that, the sailing starts to get smoother.