No Party On The Biggest Party Night of the Year?

December 28, 2007 Posted in Reality

New Year’s Eve. One of the biggest party holidays on the calendar. A time to wear something sparkly, drink pink champagne and not feel like a lame idiot, and count down the last remaining seconds in a year that was hardly what you imagined it was going to be this time 365 days ago.

By Jess

If, like me, you live in a large city, you’ve been hearing about New Year’s Eve for almost as long as you’ve been hearing about Christmas. Giant parties in giant clubs, complete with open bars, fancy food, and “hot people!” have been pushing themselves into your email inbox and popping up in conversation; urging you to fork over $100-300 for a place on the guest list.

Even if you don’t happen to reside in a metropolitan area, you’ve undoubtedly heard about a house party here and there, polling your friends to find out where and how they’ll be saying goodbye to 2007.

The point I’m trying to make is—everyone always seems to have something to do on New Year’s. Some house to crash, some club with a bouncer who can get them in, some party of a friend of a friend’s, a First Night celebration out in the frigid cold…staying home just never seems to be an option.

But what if it is—at least for you? What if you don’t have any plans this year? What if the plans you do have don’t sound as appetizing as they usually do? What if spending a night sloshing in high-heels and trying to grab someone before midnight isn’t your idea of a good time?

If all your friends are out partying, and you’re staying in with the TV and a glass of champagne, all by your lonesome, does that make you a freak?

Even though I have a few options this year regarding a New Year’s celebration, I can’t say that I’ve always found myself partying like a crazy woman on Jan 31st. For one thing, I’ve been home for the last couple of years in a beautiful but quiet New England town where the only parties around are thrown by kids 18 and under who still think blush wine is an acceptable beverage. And those parties in Manhattan? $100 is too much for me to blow on one night, even if that night “is the biggest party EVER!”

Celebrating quietly by myself has been never a problem for me, although I often feel embarrassed when I explain to friends that I did not, in fact, get wasted and wear a silver party hat.

Am I continually missing out on the best celebration of the year?

What are your New Year’s plans? Are you one of the party-harders and proud of it, or are you planning on ushering in 2008 with a horribly tacky MTV special and some popcorn?

64778 Comments2007-12-28+17%3A44%3A42Jess+-+NYU on "No Party On The Biggest Party Night of the Year?"

Katy says:
Fri, 28th Dec 20078:37 am

I stayed home the last couple years…and this year, which happens to be the first New Years I'm 21..I'm working! Oh well

meh says:
Fri, 28th Dec 200710:17 am

I find it fascinating that I can *so* relate to your thoughts on this issue, even if I am from a completely different country and culture

In Slovenia (props to you if you didn't have to look that up) it's also very uncommon for somebody to just spend a quiet evening alone on Dec 31. I'm not a party person, but every year I have to find some place to go cause otherwise *everyone* will be all worried about me (even, like, my grandma?) thinking I'm incapable of having normal social interactions or something. So yeah, it kinda sucks.

I hope you do get to spend a decent evening, partying or not Regards!

Britt says:
Fri, 28th Dec 20073:13 pm

I am doing absolutely nothing as far an I know. Probably sitting home and watching the MTV shows.

Casey says:
Sun, 30th Dec 20076:15 pm

Until today I couldn't make up my mind between 3 parties. Now the one Id chosen got canceled, the second I can't bring my date too, and the third, well that opportunity just drove away about 2 hours ago. So I'm stuck going to another party where I don't know a single person, and not sure if it will even be any fun. But this is the first New Years I have an actual date, so I guess it's not all bad. :/

Stephanie says:
Mon, 31st Dec 200710:50 am

My current beau is quite upset that I am not excited about tonight. He wants to party and drink but I just want to stay home, bake something delicious, and read. I don't know how to effectively communicate my disinterest in celebrating the passage of a year.

Ashley says:
Mon, 31st Dec 200711:23 pm

I stayed in! For the first time since I was 13! I watched the Real World and planned my reading week trip to Acapulco… I feel guilty and my friends sort of guilted me about and were shocked, but it was really quite a pleasant night. I'm content haha

Jenna says:
Mon, 22nd Dec 20085:24 pm

new years eve is so over rated! I'd much rather stay in with a friend or two, or few, and do a movie or game night… Lame or not, It's what I like to do! So who cares!?!?! You can still dress up just for the heck of it! Dressing up is fun, going out on a night when everyone and their mother is out, and it's freezing , not so much.

Jessica Taylor says:
Mon, 4th Oct 201011:20 pm

party hats are so cute that i have a collection of them*`.

Tell us what you're thinking...

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

Notify me of new posts via email.