I have about a half hour limit of patience for dinner parties, about a two hour limit with regular parties. Depends on my ability to move about. Otherwise I get bored senseless. My current terror is office going-away parties in pubs where you sit around a big table and make awkward conversation and if you attempt to leave, people try to make you stay.
The Solution: For any dull get-together e.g. an office going-away party, don't sit around a big table. It's impossible to sneak out. Always stand.
