I've found that once you pitch the entire holiday out the window, it is quite liberating. Now, while everyone else is in a mad scramble, putting up with forced gaiety, meaningless consumer crap exchanges, overworked at year's end, overwrought with family dysfunction, etc...

I have a perfectly lovely, relaxing two week holiday coming up with none of the above!

It is the most liberating, WONDERFUL thing I've done for myself and my immediate family in a long, long time. I don't miss Christmas AT ALL!