What Makes A Good Gift?

So about this time last year I was getting my gift-giving act together. I managed to still give some crap-tacular gifts, but I was definitely refining my approach: I would buy the gifts online this year and avoid the absolute circus of the local malls and stores--in this regard, I did well. I had all of my shopping done earlyish (by more than a week or so) and I had all the presents under the tree by Christmas Morning.

This year, I think I got the formula down-pat. So I give you my General Guidelines for Getting Good Gifts:

1. The gift should be something that the gift giver wants for himself/herself. This ensures that a gift was acquired with consideration and forethought. When I was rationalizing gifts, I constantly thought, "Would I want this for myself?" It prevented me from getting some truly useless gifts, like last year's Magnet Desk Toy. The guideline also ensures that the gift is representative of the giver--when the recipient gets the gift and uses it or otherwise enjoys it, they will be sharing in something that the gift giver would also use or otherwise enjoy.

2. The gift should be something that the recipient would want or use for himself/herself. This ensures that a gift will not spend undue time in its box in a cupboard, or collect dust high-up on a shelf somewhere. The rule will prevent awkward phone conversations: "How did you like your salad-tosser?" "Oh, it was nice, thanks."

3. The gift should be something that the recipient would not easily obtain on his/her own. The reasons for the recipient not obtaining the gift on their own can be as simple as "it would be too extravagant a purchase to justify spending the money" or as complicated as "it'd be nice, but I'm quite happy with..." or something like "the recipient wouldn't be able to afford it due to their income situation". Whatever the case, this rule ensures that it is truly a gift, not just a glorified stocking-stuffer.

There we have it, my three General Guidelines to Getting Good Gifts. Participating in the consumerism of Christmas is meaningless unless there's a good reason for it, and this year, with these rules, I am genuinely proud of the gifts I've gotten for people.

I feel that I have given them parts of myself, that on Christmas Morning they will unwrap their presents and find bits of me.

Moving Out, Moving On

Look at this stuff-
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

So, for better or for worse, I'm moving into my parents' townhouse, four miles away from my parents' house (and my true home for the past two decades). I am officially on my own, and come next year (when I turn 25) I'll really be on my own.

It doesn't really jive with my lifestyle, although it's a significant step towards independence; I'm still paying someone else's mortgage (my parents'), but I'll be responsible for everything that happens with the place now: repairs, upgrades, the utilities, any roommate situations. It's all mine.

It's a townhouse, so I'll have neighbors to be considerate of (not so much as my leaves blowing onto their lawn, but more of my drumming and guitar-ing being too loud for them). And I've spent a lot of time painting in that house, so I have an idea of the kind of people who live there and the area: It's close to the airport, so planes passing overhead will be loud, and a younger crowd lives there, so cars passing by will share their music/exhaust noise. But I'm used to that--I did live in a college town for two years, after all.

Then there's my cycling concerns: I'd still like to be able to ride into work, and this new place lengthens my commute (if I were to take the same path) significantly--it would add about 20 to 30 minutes each way. There are alternate routes, but I feel safest with separated facilities (i.e. trails). It's also further to get to the W&OD trail, my main stomping grounds for riding. On the flip side, if I'm further away from civilization, I would get more quality ride-time on country roads.

In reference to the lyrics above, I've started to move my stuff in. All my toys are going to go. I need to get a safe for the more "adult" toys, but they're all going to live with me in my new house.

My new place. My place. No longer "my parents' place" (although technically it still is "my parents'" place).

I'm not apprehensive--it's just the next stage, a natural progression.