Posting this in OT, since it's not really a money/FIRE issue. But I'm wondering about the perspective of others here.
My work scheduled a dinner cruise in a nearby city (not the closest, but close), as a thank you for good performance or whatever. Chartered bus to take the group from the office to the boat, buffet dinner/drinks/dj etc.
Free food, drinks, & entertainment --sounds great, right? But the thing is, it's for employees only, no +1's. Having just moved in with my SO, with whom I regularly enjoy nights out dancing etc., the idea of leaving her on her own while I went off and did a similar type of event with coworkers just felt ...weird? Plus as an introvert, I'm not sure I want to be locked up on a bus with my coworkers for another hour after a long period of cocktail-party socializing with those same folks. So I wound up declining the offer.
I guess the first mildly surprising thing is current committed me turning down a free party, which the previous single me would have jumped at. But I think I have a handle on why that is (combination of having someone else to think of, and having atrophied solo-socialization skills now that I have a partner to lean on in most such situations.)
But what really surprises me is that I seem to be almost the only one? I get the single folks going, but the vast majority of my married coworkers are going, too. Is my reaction that far out in left field? Or is there something I'm missing? Is it just that we're still in a "honeymoon phase", while members of more established couples are eager to spend time away from their spouse/SO?