Artificial Cheese

I rarely buy people gifts during the holidays.  Its not that I don’t want to buy gifts, but I don’t want to prioritize my gift recipients.  It is not possible to convince others limit their gift recipients to the people closest to them, because that just hurts the feelings of the people who are right on the edge of ‘close’.  Since you don’t want to be the one that gets but never gives, you either give a lot or get nothing.  I get nothing.  This puts me in a very cold, dark, but safe place.  I don’t get anyone gifts and eventually no one gets gifts for me, its very comfortable.  Comfortable like a pillow without a bed.

But this year I have seen a growing trend that brings hope to an otherwise dismal time of year.  That is the trend of gift exchanges.  I think these are really great.  No more worrying about lugging around a hundred crappy socks and tie organizers.  I don’t like returning gifts, especially when the cost of gas determines whether I return the gift or not.  Now I know that I am going to get one great gift, and I will be able to give one great gift without the social obscurities that go along with traditional Christmas gift giving.

Unfortunately, gift exchanges are usually localized in parties or in the workplace.  But they don’t need to be!  Just get a bunch of your friends together at the end of November, put your names in a hat, and simplify your holidays next year!