Quiet New Year at home....so sorry...WTF?

[Tmissy]

Does this bug you if you share with folks that you will be at home leading up to midnight is the other person's response almost like disappointment or almost like "Oh I'm Sorry" Do you ever get the feeling that expectations from the general population is that New Year's Eve should be a big to do? Thus, If you are doing something otherwise that something is wrong?

 

[Imdanny]

Even when I was a child, celebrating with family, the idea that you had to be there at exactly 12:00 am and blissfully happy at the moment freaked me out.

It's never been my favorite holiday.

Like I said, SO came for Christmas so he can't come for New Year's Eve.

I'll tell you one thing, being at home sure beats being on the roads where it's one of the most dangerous nights of the year.

If there was a "Bah Humbug" for New Year's Eve, that's the way I would feel about it.

It can be nice, but after Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, my feeling, particularly this year, is let's get this over.

 

[somethingshiny]

I have never been out on New Year's Eve at midnight. We call it amateur night here. People can't hold their liquor, can't hold conversation, and certainly can't drive. We've gone to dinner a couple of times and have been home by 9 or so. It's just not a big deal to adults here. I know a few people who will go to a friend's house for the night, but I don't know a single person who will be out partying.

I'm sure if I had the opportunity to attend a fancy soiree I'd jump at it, but draft beer at the local dive just doesn't sound like a good time.

 

[Imdanny]

I don't care what holiday it is, I'd rather be at home with my SO. That's the truth.

 

[Tmissy]

Imdanny & SS it is amature night definitely. First of all cover charges to the nice bars are 3+ the normal fee. Forget about getting anywhere near the buffet area if that is provided with your cover charge. Oh yeah the cheap liquor will run out before midnight.

I see it has forced gaiety kind of thing.

 

[packrat]

Not a big holiday for us either. I've gone out a couple times in my younger years and it wasn't any different than any other night, just people wore dorky headbands and glasses that had the year on them.

However, tonight marks 11 years that JD and I have been together, so that's all that matters to us about the holiday!

 

[HollyS]

I know longer care what anyone thinks.

About anything. But, in particular, what they think of me, and what I choose to do. Or not do.

Ah, the joys of being post 50.

And, yes, I'll be at home tonight.

 

[NakedFinger]

Haha yes I get that all the time. Maybe because I have been staying home with DH even when we were just dating, ever since we bought our first house at 21. I always thought that maybe people thought it was so "lame" because we were so young, but we still get that response now. Since when did it become mandatory to go out, with a ton of strangers, and get smashed on New Years? Its not my scene. I'd rather spend it with DH.

People will ask what we're doing and I tell them staying home and having a romantic New Years. And they always give a sympathetic "ohhh" (insert sad pitty look here). Its like, "ummm I'm not upset about it?" lol

Truth is...what they dont know is we have what we call "Naked New Years". We cook a fabulous romantic dinner, and then spend all night naked in bed, drinking champagne, and plenty of . Beats a crowded club any day in my opinion.

 

[yennyfire]

YES and it's STUPID!

 

[Skippy123]

I know longer care what anyone thinks.

And, yes, I'll be at home tonight.

This!!!

 

[junebug17]

I know longer care what anyone thinks.

About anything. But, in particular, what they think of me, and what I choose to do. Or not do.

Ah, the joys of being post 50.

And, yes, I'll be at home tonight.

I'd drink to those two statements if I still drank!

Yeah, it's funny, even back in my younger days when I enjoyed going out, I never really got into going out on New Year's. There was almost a feeling of pressure to have fun, a forced gaiety. I've just never gotten into it, so yes, I'll be staying in and I don't care if anyone thinks I'm an old fart (which I am!) I may try to talk my husband into going out for a bite to eat, but that's it for me.

 

[D&T]

The only time I can remember staying awake for New Years was probably twice...lol

As for us, we'll probably dead asleep by 9pm as will our kids.

 

[movie zombie]

I know longer care what anyone thinks.

About anything. But, in particular, what they think of me, and what I choose to do. Or not do.

Ah, the joys of being post 50.

And, yes, I'll be at home tonight.

says it for me, too.

MoZo

 

[JewelFreak]

Home home tonight. New Year's never seemed especially worth celebrating -- the last year was usually not all that bad anyhow. Amateur night is right -- and forced gaiety. As Danny said, roads are dangerous w/all the tanked drivers. We can't stay awake till midnight anyway!

Somehow it's gotten so that spending time "alone" is a tragedy, weird! Somebody I don't know well asked DH & me for Christmas Eve -- church with her family & dinner afterward. I don't know her kids & their spouses, don't know her & husband well. And I'm not a churchgoer much. "I hate to think of you being alone on Christmas Eve," she told me. Didn't realize that 2 of us is a lonely number! We don't have kids, have spent millions of Xmas Eves in the sad state of just us two. Much rather that than an evening w/people I've never met & won't see again. I'm still scratching my head over that one!

Happy New Year, wherever you spend it, everyone!

--- Laurie

 

[diamondringlover]

We are staying home and we usually stay home....after celebrating Christmas, my son's birthday on the 26th and my birthday on the 30th I am just to tired to do anything on New Years

 

[Haven]

I like staying home for New Year's. We threw a laid back house party last year, and this year DH and I are going out for sushi and then meeting my sister and her fiance for a movie, after which we'll have just enough time to come back to our house, pop open the bubbly, and drink to the new year. Then, off to bed!

Sounds like a perfect night to me!

I haven't experienced people being surprised or pitying me when I share our plans, but if they did, it wouldn't bother me. Who cares what they think?

 

[kenny]

As a gay boy growing up in the 50s and 60s I got an early vaccination to social expectations.

Now I'm thankful for it.

 

[Imdanny]

The only time I can remember staying awake for New Years was probably twice...lol

As for us, we'll probably dead asleep by 9pm as will our kids.

You're lucky. They kept me up at at the exact moment you had to be festive, happy, etc. Urgh.

 

[zoebartlett]

When I was younger I often celebrated NYE by having (or going to) a big bash of some sort. I've gone into Boston for First Night and stayed in the city with friends. My husband and I have gone to hotels and had over-priced dinners to celebrate the new year, but I can just as easily stay home, order in, and watch a movie. These days I can't stay up until midnight, so we don't celebrate like we used to. I've never had anyone react negatively towards my plans for NYE. Why would anyone care how I choose to spend the night?

 

[MonkeyPie]

I've gone out for NYE, but likely will not this year. With an almost 9 month old, the prospect of sleep is MUCH more exciting

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

Similar reaction to "working on Christmas." (I work at a restaurant that was open on Christmas this year.) Some of my customers asked "what are you doing for the holiday?" I would respond "Oh, I'll be here working." Everyone that I told was so apologetic.
The fact of the matter is: I'm Jewish. So I don't care about Christmas. And I don't mind the holiday pay.

I didn't bother to mention that I would be at home on New Year's Eve...probably fast asleep by 10 pm.

 

[jstarfireb]

NYE is actually one of my favorite holidays, but I've usually spent it at home having a low-key party with close friends, family, and good food. Going out was never really a part of it. It does bother me a lot that I'm not able to spend it with my husband this year...much more than it bothered me that I was working on Christmas.

ETA: Staying up past midnight for champagne and watching a ball drop has always been an essential part of the holiday for me...whether I'm at home or not!

 

[HopeDream]

I'm enjoying a nice quiet New Year's at home.

I want to start the New Year well-rested and in good spirits. My beloved is beside me playing a videogame and we're very content together. After 10pm I don't like to be more than 100ft from my bed.

New Years parties are overrated - I'm just not one for the big mid-winter drunkfest

(I think i'm an 80 year old trapped in a 20something year old body)

 

[lulu66]

dh & i are home alone for our first married nye. (honestly there were tears earlier in the evening) but we added some champagne & beer & card games & music to the mix & ended up having a great night.

i told him earlier (after a few glasses), "you know, the thing is we think other people are having this 'perfect' nye & people think we are having the perfect nye. the thing is we're all just weighing tonight against others' expectations when we should be just enjoying each other" [our company]. have had GREAT nights amongst friends at a bar; DH & i have hosted parties at home that were super fun. but this year i learned that "quiet" nye at home can be fun too. it's all about your expectations & perspective.

 

[Jennifer W]

The character of New Year celebrations has changed over the last decade or so where I live. It used to be a real community thing - in and out of neighbours' houses with drink and goodies, to make sure everyone in the street got a first foot. No one organised a party, they just went from house to house, picking up people as they went. I remember that when I was a child, at my grandparents' house. It was the most fun imaginable and I loved it. It felt like a celebration. Now it feels forced and artificial, because people either go to a party, an event or stay at home.

We ducked out of a party invitation on the flimsiest of excuses this year and saw the new year in just the two of us, in front of the fire with a glass of whiskey. I really did enjoy it and will plan for that next year!

 

[gemgirl]

I know longer care what anyone thinks.

And, yes, I'll be at home tonight.

This!!!

Also for me/us. No one really asks us and really, why care what other people might think when my husband works so hard and such long days. We're grateful to be home together, cozy warm and tucked in with our furbabies.

 

[charbie]

Nothing better than starting out the year sans hangover! Wooooohooooo! Ill take that anytime!