Treefrog, Please take your Pancreatitus seriously. A very good friend of mine died from it. He sounded alot like you lamenting about the life change asn thinking it would not effect him. He was a big guy and healthy as a horse. One day he went home from work feeling sick. Something he never did. A little more than a month later after a long agonizing time in intensive care much of the time unable to speak or be concious he passed away.
Loved his spicy food and drinks. In short he like you loved life...Don't we all? I would give alot to have my friend back and would have loved to have him go along with us to Negril if he were still with us. Unfortunately he lift a wife and 2 young children behind as well.
I would focus on what you have and what you would like to do. I would still think you could go to Negril and even visit bars with friends. Most offer juice or soda. Anyone hearing your condition would certianly understand and continue to party with you. I would think the food issue might be more diffacult. I would leave that up to someone more experienced than me.

Don't forget..... Life is the BEST high... Embrace it and use every second you got here man.