This week was a lot of socializing for me. A little too much. On top of regular summer socializing and networking, the summer internship program is in its final weeks, and I’m in charge of it, so I attend those events on top of my usual events. I enjoy spending time with the summer interns, but I’m still an introvert and like to recharge my battery alone after big group events. And with the extra layer of drinking friction, I have to psych myself up for certain events, like the summer wine tasting.

I skipped that event for years because if I could skip any event, it should be that one, right? But I decided this year I would go and ensure it was set up so that non-drinkers could fully participate. So I did, and am so grateful. I feel like a nudge and a scold sometimes with all this stuff around events, but when the organizers really nail it, (at least I tell myself) they benefit by having a template they can use going forward and to impress other clients.

On offer were five alcoholic wines and five delicious non-alcoholic: a red, a rose, two whites and a champagne. Excellent choices, well explained by the host, and the wines were poured over dinner, so non-drinkers could easily blend in if they wanted to avoid drawing attention to not drinking. We ALL had the same sophisticated drinks and we ALL could participate in the tasting conversations, which obviously can’t happen when the non-drinkers are just handed Sprite. There were at least five of us who had the non-alcoholic options and we all marveled at how we finally felt like full participants at a wine tasting and dinner event. I profusely thanked and praised the organizers and hosts at the event space (New York Vintners), who were clearly proud that they’d put on such a successful event.

The happiness over a “breakthrough” event like that has two sources for me. One is that it’s just a relief that for that one night I don’t have to deal with the logistics of not drinking while trying to have something sophisticated. The second is that it’s touching (just like in early dating) when someone notices all the little things and goes to the trouble to get them right. You feel special and seen and truly connected. Someone went to the trouble to not just give us something to hold in our hands, but to make sure we all enjoyed ourselves.

Keep summering hard.