Hey OP, thanks for the text. Posting some provocations here since I like to expose an introverted point of view.

> When everyone else can, why can’t you just enjoy a drink or two, and be part of the group for a few hours?

Apart from the hearing loss, maybe you are an introvert and just prefer more quiet enviroments. Nothing is wrong with that, there is no need to feel you must go out because of peer pressure, and no need to wait until you have a hearing loss to have an excuse to stop going. It is better to find other people who are introverts than eternally trying to adapt to be something you may not want.

> At some point it stops making sense, having done it repeatedly with the same outcome.

If you find purpose in doing something, then you don't do it because of different outcomes. Maybe you didn't find purporse in going out from the beginning?

How our choices physically distinguish us from our outgoing peers