Hi RedTail, From Xmas thru New Year's I go to Florida and hang out on the beach. Ten years ago, I changed my perspective on the whole holiday season when I realized I was stressfully chasing an American Dream that was simply unattainable and unhealthy for me. All the people in my life understand that I no longer give gifts at Xmas, I give them throughout the year, and prefer to pay for experiences together instead of paying for objects to give. I admit this is extreme because folks attach so much feeling and therefore expectations to the holidays, but it works for me.