Now that Thanksgiving is over we’re about 1/3 of the way into holiday season. Call me Scrooge but I just do not like the holidays. People who know me know that I start lamenting about this time of year right after 4th of July when, in my opinion, it all goes downhill from there in anticipation of shorter days, cold weather and worst of all, the holidays.

Sure, time with family/friends is wonderful – something to treasure – but any long distance (more than 30 minutes) travel during the holidays is really awful. So why not spend some other time of the year with loved ones and avoid the stress of jam-packed airports, heavy traffic, overpriced everything and forced obligations just because it’s what you’re supposed to do in western society? I like spending quality time with people I care about – when you can get cheap plane tickets, restaurant reservations, find parking and not be swept up in grotesque and forced consumer frenzy.

As soon as I start seeing the sad sight of once loved Christmas trees discarded on the street is when things start looking up for me. Days get longer – if only by a minute – which means spring and summer are on the horizon.