The relevant distinction, for our purposes, is between apocalyptic and ethical eschatology. But first, some context is in order. People who are happy and content with the world as it is, such as the dinner party described above, do not have eschatological outlooks. People for whom normalcy works, who are successful under current conditions, have no reason to believe that God desires a different social order. Usually, eschatology is most appealing to those who are suffering cruelly due to the unjust behavior of others with more power.
Ascetic eschatologies tend to be purist and puritan, perfectionist and highly demanding.
Celibacy and the monastic life represent historically popular forms of turning away, but others are possible as well, with workaholism and exercise addiction among the current manifestations of ascetic eschatological practice. Though ascetics throughout time have gathered in groups, today's ascetics are often highly individualistic, and focus on perfecting themselves at the expense of other people - whether spiritually, physically or mentally. Finally, while I know some joyful ascetics, it is hard to believe that asceticism is not, at least some of the time, a form of sour grapes. This approach may or may not involve any particular actions, since it is also a kind of giving up on human improvement, based as it is on waiting for God to break in and make everything right again. You might have noticed that this essay begins with what is essentially a confession of my temptation to hold violent apocalyptic views when faced with injustice, thus the title.