My family is very big and very close. I know my great aunts and uncles, 4th cousins, some family so far i dont even know what to call them, but i know theyre related somewhere. I grew up be taught bloods thicker then water, never turn your back on family etc etc. Now i love my family, but they drive me to the point of insanity. The content talking behind eachothers back, the guilt tripping, the content fighting and arguing, the amount of toxicity. Its fucking discussing. Getting gifts suck, its not because im ungrateful full, but half the time is some cheap trinket they saw and thought id like it, something i dont need or its clothes that doesnt fit. Then someone will get heart broken if you dont use the gift youre given or dont wear the clothes they buy. I dont even asks for anything for Christmas or my birthday because it will either end up taking space up in my closet or gets tossed in to trash. Lets not forget to mention the drinking. Its not the worst thing, but it does get very annoying. We do have some fun, then someone starts getting emotional, then an argument starts or theres bullying. Alcohol is always involved in some shape or form. I completely quit drinking or even walking to a bar unless its to eat, (bar food is always so good) because of watching what turns family into. Untill a year ago, i had no one, and i mean NO ONE, out side my family. My best friend, my buddy, the guy i call brother, married my cousin who is more of a sister then a cousin to me. I love them both, and we are still very close, but now he is officially part of the family. I couldn't get away, i couldnt talk to no one without it getting back to the rest of the family. If theyre not drinking, theyre guilt tripping me or trying to force me to do stuff. Every family event, or holiday, there's some game theyre playing. I dont enjoy the games, it starts to get loud, so i always try to not play. During my cousin and best friends wedding, everyone kept trying to drag me out to the dance floor. I was the best man, in the welding so i couldnt leave. But it always gets to the point when i have to turn into a complete asshole because my family doesn't understand the word NO. I dont like crowds, shouting or super loud music. I get over stimulated. I dont mind helping people out, yard work, moving or simple going through stuff and getting rid of stuff in storage. But with family its annoying. Unprepared, no plan, no proper tools. Family: can you help clean up the woods? We have the tools. Me: sure! Be right there gets there Family: heres a wired chain saw, and battery powerd weed whipper. Can you cut up that 50 foot tall, 20inch thick tree thats down in the woods and clear the brush? Like seriously?!?!?! Anyways, it almost Thanksgiving, already my family are demanding that everyone make memories, stay off theyre phones, no naps, watching tv, play games, and "have fun". I just want to run away, disappear till next year, skip Thanksgiving, and Christmas