Work conference dillemma

[Anonymous]

So I was chosen to attend a week long out of town company conference-myself along with my supervisor will be the individuals representing our department. Honestly for various reasons I really don't want to go but I felt like I had to say yes and that turning it down would create problems professionally. I am hopefully about 12-15 years from retirement and have no interest in advancing into a larger leadership role but I need and want to continue to "maintain" at my current level (not lose my job!). However, I work in a toxic, gossipy environment and I'm worried that my attending this conference is going to engender envy, backstabbing and ultimately create more problems for me when all I want to do is do good work and keep a low profile until I can hopefully retire. My supervisor is not well liked or trusted and I have concerns about being associated with her. Thus far I've been able to keep a pleasant, professional distance with her, however, at this conference I'm going to be forced to spend a lot of time with her socializing, there's going to be a lot of photos taken, etc.

Any suggestions for how I should handle this situation? I was really surprised I was chosen but I think that probably a lot of it is that my supervisor does not see me as a threat (rightfully so). Also, I'm friendly and know how to "behave" at these sorts of things-I'm not going to get drunk and make an ass out of myself, etc.

[Anonymous]

Don't engage with drama. And you sound like you are old enough to not care what others think, so don't care what others think.