this girl's night out

i don't understand why girls (or women, i guess i should call them at my age) need some lame excuse to get together and have drinks. men seem to be able to get together and hang out without needing to play a stupid game or sell each other useless crap. granted, men play poker or watch sports together, but i believe that they truly enjoy doing these things. maybe it's just me, but i don't have any desire to play bunco or buy make-up or jewelry or over-priced kitchen supplies or educational childrens toys or smocked-up baby outfits and i also don't need an excuse to have a drink in the evening (or afternoon if the occasion calls for it, as it often does here at the beach).
during residency, where money was scarce (as opposed to fellowship where it is nonexistent), several of the residents' wives started these "home businesses" and would send invitations to these "parties" to the rest of us. it was surprising to some friends how a simple, seemingly innocuous invitation to a party would send me into a tirade on the subject. i would rather one of these home entrepreneurs ask to borrow $75 than ask me to come and buy a gingham monogrammed jumper for my toddler. as most women have experienced, prior to the party, your host assures you there will be no pressure to buy anything - "just come and visit, it will be fun." it won't be fun and there will be pressure.
now, there is an exception to my general feelings on this topic - and it is for those sex-toy parties. i haven't actually been invited to one of these (probably since i have not kept it a secret how i feel about home-business parties), but from all accounts - there is more drinking (and therefore more fun) and less pressure at these type of parties.
on a related note, i am not really a fan of book clubs for similar reasons. i am all for meeting up and eating and drinking with friends - and if books come up as a topic for discussion, that's fantastic. but i don't need to read a book to get together with friends and drink.