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I haven't had a tree, or hung up lights or decorations for about 10 years now but I think it would do me some good mood-wise to do it just for me. I'm worth it after all.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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There is also the issue of safety. At our ages ladders are not recommended. I install lights only on the lower level roof, with a 6' stepladder and remove them using a hook on a broomstick. In the yard I put a variety of display items on the ground, which is a lot safer.
I'm a long way off from retirement, but I found the wording of the question interesting - what would retirement have to do with holiday decorations? Surely if you're retired you'd actually have more time to spend on things like Christmas decorations than you'd have as a member of the workforce.
I am like you. I hardly bother with much these days. I put a wreath on the door, and put up a small tree, most years. If I don’t put up a tree, I feel a bit bad about it.
Putting up a Christmas tree and a wreath are MAJOR components of decorating for Christmas!! (and a tree is effort and shows interest in Christmas)
So saying you hardly bother.....
Hardly bothering would be NO decorations, but instead just sending a few Christmas cards or just wrapping a short string of lights on a porch railing.
Last edited by matisse12; 09-26-2022 at 02:58 PM..
I'm a long way off from retirement, but I found the wording of the question interesting - what would retirement have to do with holiday decorations? Surely if you're retired you'd actually have more time to spend on things like Christmas decorations than you'd have as a member of the workforce.
I think that empty nests often coincide with retirement. You no longer have kids living with you. They might visit for the holidays some years, but other years they celebrate either at their own homes or they visit their in-laws.
It can be hard to get motivated to decorate the house when it's just you and your spouse. And that's probably doubly true if it's just you.
I don't decorate for any holidays and Christmas is a bare miminum. I have a really cute little wrought iron tree (about 5 ft) where I put lights and my favorite ornaments. It looks really festive and I don't have to water it or clean up needles.
I do have some string lights in the kitchen area year round and I use candles as well in the winter months to create that 'hygge' feeling. cozy.
Location: When you take flak it means you are on target
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I feel so sad for so many people posting here. We decorate for every major holiday. Our house is on top of a hill, we have a giant "christmas tree" of lights on our flag pole that can be seen all over town. We do the eves with lights on Halloween, Christmas and we deck the house in red, white and blue lights and bunting on the 4th.
I'm hoping to make the paper this Halloween with my terribly tasteless new addition to our display. We're going to put white shrink wrap on the garage door (so it doesn't stain) then stuff a "body" and put out a big "puddle" of blood running down the driveway, with bloody handprints on the door and a big "knife" handle protruding from the back of the body.
Hopfully I won't get arrested!
The Mayor's still peeved at me for my April Fools joke several years ago. Where I posted on Facebook that "Effective April 1st," the city was going to raise the speed limit on the highway through town to 70, since nobody followed the 45 mph signs anyway. OMG - people jammed the switchboard at city hall and were calling the Mayor at home until 10 pm! I made the front page that time, and they had to assure people at the council meeting that it was a joke. Reading comprehesion isn't a strong point around here...
1987, June, my husband became disabled. November, after Thanksgiving, went to.a luncheon at church. Advent was explained, sheets handed out for daily Scripture reading. Ask the family members what was important for Christmas.
Went home, asked husband, sons, 13, 15, what do they want for Christmas ? Cutting a tree special breakfast, birthday cake for Jesus. Gifts weren't mentioned.
So ! Each night, after dinner 10, 15 minutes we read a devotion, Scripture.
Definition: Advent to come. For Christians, 4 Sundays before Christmas. According to dictionary.
Christmas Day, special breakfast, believe my folks came for dinner. ( Husband's folks in MN, we're in California) The next day, I asked my sons what they thought of this Christmas. Reply? Now we know what Christmas is about !
For me, it was A Lot less stress, why I was celebrating the day. A day to be thankful for God's greatest gift, His Son.
I love decorating for Halloween, Fall, and Christmas. We put out minimal lights for Christmas, just around the front porch area. But I still decorate outside and inside the house. The live Christmas tree is my favorite with ornaments we have had for over 40 years. I don't decorate much at Easter and none for St. Patrick's day. I do put out my red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. Our children live local and we have small grandchildren. I have a lot of siblings and nieces, nephews, cousins, that still live locally. We all get together at Christmas. I hope I have many, many more years of keeping the spirit. It keeps the past memories of the holidays alive.
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