> I stand by what I wrote earlier this year: Alcohol was a net positive for me. It helped influence the bond of friendships, hundreds of wonderful nights in beautiful places, and in many ways, the founding of FireHydrant.

I feel similarly about alcohol... I came very close to drinking myself to death after a decade or so of heavy drinking, but I think it was also the case that alcohol probably saved me and may have been net-positive overall.

I was very depressed at that time and when things were bad it was useful to know that soon I would be drunk and the pain would go away. That's why I drank.

Now every day is gray and there is no relief and probably will never be. I'm coping and will continue to coop for the little time we have left, but I miss alcohol.

Maybe that's how all alcoholics feel.