I'm so proud of you Michele. I too have wrestled with drinking too much in the past. Often I would 'quit' (though never declared it outloud to anyone) but would inevitibly start up again. Back in Canada it was certainly a crutch and I think we drank because we weren't satisfied with our life.

While traveling in a Morocco, Egytp and Sudan, we weren't able to buy alcohol (well Morocco we could but we didn't because it is a muslim country and we just didn't think much about it). Anyways, all of this time not drinking really opened my eyes up to the fact that I just don't need it. These days we have the odd drink here and there, but we also find ourselves in situations where we are surrounded by it and find any excuse to party. Like when we were in Botswana for New Years, we certainly partied. But here in Uganda I might have one or two per week. Even then, I am wondering why I bother. I think slowly but surely I am moving away from it permanently. We will see what transpires. I appreciate your honesty in your writing. Thank you.