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We have an artificial tree that we have put up for years. But since our 3 1/2 year old cat is more like a kitten who is into everything, a decorated tree would be a disaster. So like last year, we will have to make do with a miniature tree up where she can't get to it. I will put a wreath on the front door along with a garland and some lights around the door. We like to have a bit of a feel of Christmas.
We tend to decorate depending on what is going on. One year, we were doing xmas away, I did no decorations. Last year, everyone was at our house for days including the kids, so we went all out, this year people will be here for xmas eve, I decorated but not EVERYTHING.
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My wife wants to put up the artificial tree, if it were up to me we wouldn't decorate. Nobody comes here on Christmas, so why bother? I suggested we put up the tree and just leave it up all year. We rarely go into that room, so we could close it off, then open the doors at Christmas time every year!
We didn't do anything for Thanksgiving and we aren't doing anything special on Christmas. We are having a "dinner" for the SEC Championship when we will also give our gifts to the grandkids. All of our kids have spouses with big families so they always have something going on, and we like to be out of the way and not be a burden on them to "have to" show up for those holidays. We haven't put up a tree in quite a few years. I still do stockings but we take them to their house on Christmas Day when we come over and watch them open their gifts from Santa.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MG120
We haven't done a tree in 25 years. Christmas is a children's event, at least in our opinion, and we don't have kids, so we don't do Christmas. We usually take a trip someplace.
Interesting, I would probably be the same if we had no kids and grandkids, but I think that's a rare view of Christmas. My sister-in-law and her husband are retired, and they had their 5 Christmas trees up since 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. They have no kids, but with 3 dogs and a cat, only put lights on the trees. Any ornaments would be knocked off.
I love decorating the tree and looking at it, and the cherished memories some of the ornaments evoke. That said I totally respect and get why others don’t.
I made a mistake. We always had a live tree, and then thrown out of course. We moved to a new house three years ago and I thought we would get an artificial tree to avoid the mess. We can’t put it in the attic, too high for us with ladders, so had to store in a closet. Now the closet is stuffed with a fake tree for 50 weeks of the year. They had some cute tiny live trees at Lowe’s which would have been great. Too late now.
We will get a live tree and put it up next weekend. H put a few decorations outside yesterday, but he will spend next Sunday putting up all of the outside lights and remaining decorations and I will decorate the tree and the inside. We always have a Christmas tree even if we are traveling. Our oldest daughter and her fiance will be with his family on the east coast for Christmas so it is just our younger daughter and us for the holiday. The three of us are going out to Christmas dinner at a lovely restaurant instead of me cooking this year. We go see my parents for the day the weekend after Christmas.
Since we will be travelling rather than hosting Christmas this year, we mutually decided to not erect and decorate our Christmas tree. All other Holiday and Seasonal desorations are displayed.
Do other retired couples also omit some or all of their holiday decorating?
No but yes.
6 CATS do rather put a tree out of the question.
But then again, I have lots of trees, outside where they can't get at it, to decorate. There is an evergreen bush in view of my den window that I do the lights on. It is in my grand field/forest view.
Those decorations I might put on a tradition tree, from Unicorns to Federation shuttlecraft, have long been placed in a curio cabinet.
I do put a wreath out on the fence on the road. As to in house decorations, it is sort of. Stockings and stuffeds of the season (Santa, Rudolphs, Snowmen, Penguins, Geoffreys, etc) are always out. Other decorations, though, not so much.
Part of the reason is.....6 CATS but also that the season is on top of me before I know it but then gone before 12th Day......and then it is long past 12th Day before it gets put away.
Last edited by TamaraSavannah; 11-27-2023 at 10:30 AM..
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