Christmas Indecisions

Today, the day after Thanksgiving the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season, only I don't have to participate. All year long I have been hinting and at times requesting that no gift exchanges occur between me and others...sort of a one man effort to cut down on the stress and hassle of finding that "perfect" gift for each person. Last year there were close to 20 or so people on my list, now that is down to about 7. Plus those 7 will be simple, in fact most are already done. I've tried to cut back (well being unemployed/retired) one has to make sacrifices and limit the gift giving to kids and a select few. Calendars - National Geographic - are great gift ideas that last all year and are relatively easy, that and Yankee Candles and of course for the kids US Savings Bonds. And there you have it...no hassles...it is all done.

Then why am I beginning to feel an urge to splurge? Probably all the Thanksgiving hype/Christmas Sales and the effort of the Retail Establishment to brainwash us into thinking if you don't shop and spend, spend, spend, then you are not celebrating Christmas. Well I'm resisting that idea and will seek to celebrate Christmas in my own way...now to deal with the issue of decorating the house, putting up a tree and so forth. May put out some decorations in the house, but may not put up the tree...limited space and well, it is time consuming to put it up and then take it down after...a ceramic Christmas Tree may have to suffice this year.