I haven't had too many martinis over the years. I was quite the gin and tonic imbiber for a period of time. I suppose a martini may have become an interest in those days of bar hopping long ago. It's just that the social drinking did not correspond to the watering hole mentality I developed in and after the Navy. It's not a bad thing.
I did most of my drinking at home after my enlistment and settling into the technical instruction thing I did for 20 years. It was typically small amounts of very potent liquor to which I would add an ice cube or dash of water to tone it all down. Then I would ususally drink a shot quick — for effect more so than taste. I wasn't one to enjoy the taste of whisky like my daddy did.
The martini in pop culture also was somewhat of a repellant as well. Something about "shaken, not stirred" turned me right off. I always favored the dry drinks to those sweet monstrosities. I think it was due to a Southern Comfort whiskey overdose in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico — or perhaps it was scullery duty the following day.
So no wine, gin, and olive for me. "The Martinez" evolving to "The Martini" just didn't do it for me. However, I could sit around and drink others under the table when it was on the social agenda. Must have gotten that from dear old dad.
Today is National Martini Day. It happens each June 19th. I think it's a fine day to tie one on if you're so inclined. I believe I will continue to sit those hard knocking bar sessions out anymore.
My "need" to drink never existed. My "wish" to drink naturally waned with maturity.