When I was young and thought I was cool, New Year's Eve used to mean big cover charges for overpriced open bars (the bars may have been open, but finding a space to get to a bartender wasn't) and overrated entertainment (am I supposed to be able to recognize the name of any DJ?).

Now that I'm older, wiser, and so cool it's mind blowing, let me wax poetic on New Year's Eve for a moment and provide you with my three step plan for New Year's Eve 2009.

First off, everyone wants to get as drunk as possible on New Year's Eve and that. is. fine. You've just left the previous year in your wake and it's almost as if that last day doesn't even happen: Instantaneously, it's a whole year ago and, therefore, can be disregarded. Also, New Years Day is probably the only day of the year where you can be hungover and no one will look down on you. No one. If anything, your stock will rise. So step one, booze is a must.

After the jump, read why steps two and three lead me to believe a beer swap party is the perfect event for this New Year's Eve.

Second, and true to what people say, New Year's Eve is always amateur hour at the bars. If you read my posts, you probably think of beer at least occasionally in an enlightened fashion. And sure, us enlightened drinkers can get as drunk and unruly as the next clod, but we're also smart enough to know when to stay away from idiots like us! Who wants to ring in the new year in an overcrowded room of strangers anyway? So step two, staying home can be a big plus.

My third point is NYE09 specific: In case you haven't noticed, pretty much every bubble has burst. If you weren't rich enough to lose your life savings to Bernie Madoff, you were either just rich enough to go broke some other way or so poor your were broke to begin with. Congratulations. We're all screwed. Moral of the story: I don't care how big the glasses are for that champagne toast at midnight, I'm not paying any cover to go out on New Year's Eve this year. So step three, save some cash.

Where does that leave us? Here's a suggestion. Beer swap party. For the uninitiated here's how it works: Get 24 people together and each person brings a case of unique and discussion worthy beer. Every guest swaps beers with every other guest and suddenly each person has a case of 24 different beers. Try them in a specific order like a formal tasting or just discuss them as you go; either way, you have 24 instant conversation starters and plenty of alcoholic beverages to go around, all for the price of one case of beer.

Obviously, friends don't come in convenient 24 packs like beer does, but you can make the numbers work regardless of how many people you invite. Six pack swappers are equally as fun for small groups and so on down the line. For added interest, encourage people to bring tasting notes or other info on their beer (or a truly enthusiastic host can find out what people are bringing in advance and compile a program). If you don't drink your entire case or find yourself with some no shows -- woo hoo! -- party favors! Take your extras home and continue tasting at your leisure.

Good friends hanging out at home with good beers. For me, that's a winning formula any day of the year, but on New Year's Eve 2009 especially, why not try something different? After the year we just had, a little change could do us some good (as any Obama voter probably already told you).

But do make sure to keep at least one nice bottle champagne on hand. Some traditions are worth keeping around.