Playa Gifting Changed Your Christmas?

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:02 pm

I'm finding that I'm using the same old method of checklists and addressing other people's interests when buying their Christmas gifts this year.

Are you inspired by your playa experiences to do it differently? Post your thoughts here.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:04 pm

I think the mechanics are little changed but I'm less likely to give a piece of junk simply for the sake of a gift.

tisha2 · Post by **tisha2** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:16 pm

yep. i find i make more and find almost-new stuff to give to someone who needs it more than i do rather than buying gifty-crap.

this year i'm inclined to take it a step further and make/pack/wrap up whatever calls to me to do so and let their appropriate recipiant present themselves to me - avoid the whole list-thing altogether. (like the double AA batteries i just HAD to put in my bag one morning on the playa for no discernable reason, only to have someone a few hours later approach me in serious need of double AA batteries!!)

happens out there... why the fuck not make it happen out here??

SilkenTofu · Post by **SilkenTofu** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:51 pm

Unfortunately no. My sisters have sucked all the fun out of Christmas shopping. They will tell me what it is they want, where they saw it, and the size and color if applicable, or worse send me an email link of the item itself. It does take all the fun out of shopping around, but I guess they get what they want. I will usually buy extra "stocking" goodies, but the main present is pre-selected. One year I did revolt and buy what I wanted them to have, good thing I save receipts. I am such a loser.

With my friends we usually just have a dinner/get together where we potluck it, and do a white elephant gift. This years white elephant is a purple glass Virgin of Guadalupe night lite that I picked up in a snooty thrift store. I almost want it myself.

sparkletarte · Post by **sparkletarte** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:22 pm

Not really.

My family and most friends aren't big into giving presents, for which I'm very glad. Every few years I make a bunch of stuff to give- cookies, soaps, bath salts, picture frames, crafty things...but I'm not a good planner so I don't do it as frequently as I'd like.

I buy for one family member (we do the draw thing, both in my and my boyfriend's families), and I'm happy if they tell me exactly what they want. Saves giving them something they don't have a need for.

I do really like to give people gifts though.

gregori · Post by **gregori** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:23 pm

SilkenTofu wrote:Unfortunately no. My sisters have sucked all the fun out of Christmas shopping. They will tell me what it is they want, where they saw it, and the size and color if applicable, or worse send me an email link of the item itself.
<<...SNIP...>>

Due to this sort of behaviour from my family, I told them several years ago that I am opting OUT of gift-mas. (Call it what it really is, right?) Instead I send someone a gift if/when I feel like it, without reciprocal obligation, and for no reason other than my desire to do so.
(Long before I knew anything about BM or 'gifting' in that sense.)

I certainly have a 'list' of things I want, but I'd rather have a gift that meant something to the giver as well, not just a commodity. The best gifts come from the heart, not the mart.

Grins,
Gregori

jbelson · Post by **jbelson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:29 pm

Totally. I said to hell with x-mas, no gifts, and am going to Costa Rica.
It's not a gift if it's forced in my opinion.

Woah! Did I just type that? I guess I'm a bit of a Grinchtm

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:30 pm

i always feel funny about all of this pre-christmas crap, and even christmas itself. it's so fuckin' commodified.

i decided to compromise between what they want to get and what i want to give,

i'm givin' my family shares of animals from the heifer project and something small each, some physical thing, hopefully something that they 'want'.

much as i want to give everyone in my life something, i'll probably keep it to the bare minimum. otherwise it feels like it becomes guilt trip central. oh, the xmas spirit.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:33 pm

SilkenTofu wrote:Unfortunately no. My sisters have sucked all the fun out of Christmas shopping. They will tell me what it is they want, where they saw it, and the size and color if applicable, or worse send me an email link of the item itself. It does take all the fun out of shopping around, but I guess they get what they want. I will usually buy extra "stocking" goodies, but the main present is pre-selected. One year I did revolt and buy what I wanted them to have, good thing I save receipts. I am such a loser.

Poof! No!
I have the talent to be really good at presents--I can spend hours shopping and thinking and shopping some more and assembling. I don't do that right now--too busy, but it was wonderful hitting the nail on the head without being told, and giving what they never even knew what they wanted.

Your poofy sisters should just do that to each other and leave you to get them one wonderful surprise each. Have their x-mas cookie and eat it too!

SilkenTofu · Post by **SilkenTofu** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:27 pm

thanks for the advice Crypto...I have also thought about joining some cult or religion that doesn't celebrate Christmas...Christmas was so much easier when I was a kid *sigh*

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:54 pm

My problem is that I really, really like giving presents, always have. I couldn't possibly skip anyone in the family, I've tried, I feel compelled to find something they'll like. The exception is Larry's son, but that's because we haven't heard from him in over 18 months and he's told us send money or nothing. As he desires ...

I have a gift drawer, well two, (ooh, and a playa drawer) that I start filling during the after christmas sales. I buy stuff I like all year if something is on sale or a cool thing pops up on ebay. Then about now I sort through and see what would suit whom. Really eases the budget working over a full year.

I have been making more homemade things under the influence of playa gifting. Last year I gave the nephews homemade bread and Utah honey, plus homemade fudge; Larry gives candles he makes, and this year I'm adding bracelets for the nieces. I've always taken cookies to the neighbors. I'm almost done with a dollhouse for a young niece, and have one more to go which will be done much, much later. My "projects" are now filling three tables: workroom, kitchen and living room, plus the sewing desk. Yikes!

Can we say obsessive-compulsive? Sucker? Sappy?

regynalonglank · Post by **regynalonglank** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:08 pm

well, i can't seem to bring myself to buy crap at the mall, and i have no time to make stuff really, so a couple of friends and i have decided to record a few cover songs of peace and love and burn them down to disk with some artwork by a friend for the cover, and we're gonna give that out instead. happy happy merry merry!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:13 pm

AntiM
You sound absolutely normal to me!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:41 am

Ah, see, I've found my place in the universe. This thread had me counting how many people, or sets of people, I gift at christmas; there are around 40 without counting my Larry. No wonder I have to string it out all year.

The positive side to being unwell and housebound this year has been the huge lumps of time on my hands. That's why I can sit and make gifties. I already have a box of new pendants for next year! And I've already purchased satin cord, 600 yards of it.

Gack!

MoisturePup · Post by **MoisturePup** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:06 am

Mister Jellyfish Mister wrote:I'm finding that I'm using the same old method of checklists and addressing other people's interests when buying their Christmas gifts this year.

Are you inspired by your playa experiences to do it differently? Post your thoughts here.

Oh, I hadn't thought about this. I had completely written off Christmas as a purile juvenile banal gauche orgiastic excersize in consumerism... Much to my parents disapointment (I refuse to drive to LA for Christmas, my god... it's L.A. )

I wonder what sort of things I could make for my family that they would cherish... (aside from Britney Spears lip synching videos.)

MoisturePup · Post by **MoisturePup** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:19 am

SilkenTofu wrote: With my friends we usually just have a dinner/get together where we potluck it, and do a white elephant gift. This years white elephant is a purple glass Virgin of Guadalupe night lite that I picked up in a snooty thrift store. I almost want it myself.

Silken, that's really terrible (your sisters demanding specific tribute.) Have you considered just opting out? The holiday is expensive, it doesn't make sense, and it's not adding to your familial relationships. In my family my Mother is an absolute nightmare on Christmas. About 10 years ago I began to question the sincerity of buying Hallmark cards (nothing says sincere like mass produced sincerity.) When I gave my mother her gift with a simple, "To: From:" card on top she broke into tears and threw a tantrum and ruined Christmas for everybody. Which of course is my fault for not wanting to convey fake sincerity, whoops.

This went on for several years until I decided that this was insane and I absolutely, under no circumstances, was going to continue to particpate in this. So I have opted out of christmas gift giving for the past three years. The first year I showed up for Christmas anyway (an 800 mile round trip drive to LA from SF) and had to deal with guilting over not having bought presents, despite my generous gifting of 18 hours on the road. That was the final straw, I permanently wrote Christmas off as a holiday that brings out the absolute worst in my family.

My mother undoubtedly takes it personally, but that's her trip to be on. I don't need to participate any longer in her hoop jumping pity party.

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:24 am

that reminds me, i need to figure out how to shock the extended family THIS year.

i'll be ready for them this year. they won't get me.

muhahahaha

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:36 am

AntiM wrote: The positive side to being unwell and housebound this year has been the huge lumps of time on my hands.
Gack!

Thanks, AntiM. Same goes for my 5 year old daughter who catches every cold or virus in the world. She's now under house arrest, so to speak. My wife worries for her alot. So while Mommy was in the shower today I asked her what she wanted to get her for Christmas. "There is ancient people's gold over the mountain" she claimed. "OK, Mommy would like to have you all better for Christmas, will the gold make you healthy?" I replied. That led us to ebay where we found a little trinket that she chose and we agreed to make a little book telling the story so Mom will know to touch the magic thingy any time to make her little cutie well.

I'm still looking at what people really want in their lives, but I'm trying to go deeper. I'll let you know what Mom thinks of this gift after the holiday.
If there is going to be any magic this Christmas, I realize I am responsible to bring it. Sound familiar?

'Till then, I'm touching my magic computer keyboard and wishing you well, AntiM. Let's all of us do that right now.

gigglesnort · Post by **gigglesnort** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:46 am

.....(touching magic computer keyboard, thinking healthy thoughts about AntiM)......

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:19 am

i'm in. i've been doing this - very quietly - nearly every day for a while now...

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:27 pm

Ah shucks, it must be working! On wednesday my surgeon told me I was doing very well all things considered, and the gyn today was complimentary about my progress and, well, other things ... ahem. (SHE wasn't gently touching a magic computer keyboard by any means, but ya gotta have done what ya gotta have done)

Woohoo! magic keyboards, I feel like I got an early gift today. THANKS!

BlueBirdPoof · Post by **BlueBirdPoof** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:58 pm

I will say tha it's taken a lot of the wind out of Christmas's sails for me.

Too much prep and money goes into BM. Doesn't leave me a whole lot left over. Even Hallowe'en is more "eh"

Playa Gifting Changed Your Christmas?

Playa Gifting Changed Your Christmas?

~

Gift-mas

Re: Playa Gifting Changed Your Christmas?