In Juneau I don't have birth family and I truly do not like to go to friends' homes at holiday time so I usually am alone at Christmas. Which is totally fine with me.

Even then I have favorite ways to be alone. One year on Christmas Day I caught the local state ferry at 3 o'clock in the morning and chugged up Lynn Canal to the town of Skagway, a trip of about 6 hours. There were fewer than 20 of us on board and it was like having my own yacht.

It was a bitterly cold night and the Northern Lights were brilliant all night. I stood alone on deck until I was chilled to the bone and out the other side when I'd dive indoors to warm up, only to repeat the process. I had a grand time.

Since I have a dog I can't do that anymore. Leaving a dog in a crate on the car deck is not much of a vacation for a dog. I'd love to take a cruise where everyone was allowed to bring a dog.