Simplefying the Holidays

[Crankin]

I do a few cards to people from long ago... in other words, people I don't see.
I don't celebrate Christmas and Chanukah has always been a "for the children" type of holiday for me. I hate that people have made a minor holiday into something its not, because of societal pressure. So, generally, I buy one larger present for both DSs and their spouses. It's easier than just giving something like, 4 sweaters or some smaller item. Both are bought on line, but we give it to the ones that live here in person. I send something to my dad, ordered on line. DH and I do not exchange gifts. Our anniversary is 12/8 and that's enough. I celebrate Chanukah with a small group of friends. This year I am doing it. It's latkes and usually some type of dairy spread (tuna, salads, bagels and cream cheese, and dessert). It's a pot luck, little stress. I buy these friends small gifts at locally owned stores, usually around Thanksgiving, during independent business weekend, or at one of the many local artisan shows in the beginning of December.
The only holiday parties I usually get invited to are work related. I really don't want to go this year, as I have to rearrange my client schedule, to go to a party that's at my clinical director's house, near my office, which is far from where I live. But it will look bad if I don't go. Still deciding on that. DH's company stopped doing big holiday-spouse invited parties about 5 years ago. They do a thing for employees in January.
While I sort of like the festive feeling of this time of year, I generally pay no attention to most of it. I do like New Year's Eve and if I don't go away, for nordic skiing, we go out to a nice place, or have a party where everyone brings something. It was a little different when my kids were small, as we made a big deal about the meaning of Chanukah (freedom) and helping them not feel like outsiders, especially when we lived in AZ and we were more of a minority. We do the obligatory Chinese food on Christmas Eve, although last year, we went to our closest friends' house for dinner. The past few years we have either gone on an AMC hike, or x country skied/snow shoed on Christmas Day, although a few years, it's been warm enough to ride.