I starting thinking about my Christmas list and shopping a few weeks ago and have been trying to get started. But I find I’m suffering from a distinct lack of enthusiasm this year. I used to consider it a challenge to come up with great gifts and gave it a lot of thought and effort. I always hated the actual shopping part, but I gave it my best. But this year I just can’t seem to get into it.
I think the primary reason actually stems from me spending the past year retrieving, unpacking, sorting and putting away (or at least attempting to) Steve’s and my belongings that were being stored at my parents’ house. It’s been a tremendously intimidating amount of stuff.
Don’t get me wrong, I like my stuff. I enjoy being in a busy, cluttered environment. I like my walls to be coated in pictures and all the bookshelves filled. But it’s become really obvious that the consumption has to stop because, simply put, we have no more room.
Steve and I are extremely lucky. We have everything we need and most of the things we want (as do all the people on our gift list). It’s hard to come up with gift ideas and requests these days. Most of our desires at this point in life are big ticket. The top three things on our wish list currently are a new TV, camcorder and a house. We are saving toward these goals. We’ll probably get the TV sometime in the next year, put our CostCo Amex card rebate toward the camcorder, and I’m confident we’ll be in a house sometime before 2050.
Seriously, though, it’s hard to come up with things that can show up wrapped under the tree. And I have to say that I honestly believe that I could be perfectly happy in life never getting another gift from anyone. Well… except Steve. Husbands are always on the hook.
Anyway…
It seems to me that Christmas gifts are for kids. Kids have lots of things on their lists and love opening presents. It’s enjoyable for everyone to see a kid light up at getting that toy they’ve “always” wanted. I get that. But we’re not kids anymore, and we don’t have any of our own.
The best part of Christmas for me has always been the decorations. I like shopping for them, putting them up and walking/driving all over the place to look at them. They evoke this warm fuzzy feeling in me from the wonderful Christmases I’ve had with my family. Especially since moving away to Santa Cruz nine years ago, everybody getting together is really a rare occasion. Few (if any) other times of year have my grandparents, parents, brother and me (and Steve of course) in the same place at the same time. And it’s one of the few times of year Steve and I have an extended visit to Southern California that allows us time to see friends.
So I suppose my point is, I don’t want anyone to feel unloved and unappreciated by my shopping reluctance. I really wish gifts weren’t part of the holiday equation at all, but since they are, I will do my best. Ultimately, I can’t wait to spend time with my family and friends around Christmas. For me, that’s what it’s all about.
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I agree on many points you make, but my gifts tend to be more practical. I think getting pajamas or a robe (when needed) are wonderful. Maybe even a hair product that I wanted buy for myself normally is great. My mom once gave me a fancy vacumm cleaner...think of her every time I use it. Lee and I are still using the plastic containers you and Steve gave him over 3 years ago. Some practical gifts just keep on giving. I wish we would just write a nice note to the person and call it good. Laboring over the gift is not for me. My brother and I got my Dad a box (50 or 50) of his favorite tube socks (the ones with the stripes under the knee), since he has everything but the socks had gone out of style.
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