Instead of gravitating toward your usual nightlife haunts, invite your friends over for a night in. Host a potluck if you want a hearty meal or set out some simple snacks and make the night bring-your-own-beverage for a gathering that’s even more gentle on your budget. If you want to create some structure, plan your evening around a sporting event on TV, or a card or board game.
The dress code is casual, it’s not too loud to have a conversation, your pets are always welcome, and there’s plenty of elbow room. The next time you want to get together, you can rotate to someone else’s place, so you don’t have to host every single time.