The best gift

[aome]

So, I'm already seeing holiday gift suggestions popping up everywhere, from store-specific to "Best 25 gifts for her" or whatever. And I know that we will probably have to act earlier than usual for deliveries to arrive in time, at least in the US, where our postal system is currently floundering. But never, in the history of ever, have I seen a

Comments

[meathiel]

One of the best gifts was concert ticket for a band I didn't know before but which I ended up loving (Have seen them 3 more times since then!)
Not very practicable this year, though.

[aome]

Still, the idea of "experience" gifts vs "physical" gifts is a good one, especially for people who don't need more Stuff.

[spiffikins]

Seconding this - in the Before Times - my friend S always went to the local Cabrillo college musicals in the summers - a couple of years, I got her gift certificates for the plays - I wouldn't buy her a ticket, but a gift card worked well and let her pick the play and date that worked for her.

This year I suspect a lot of my gifts will end up being restaurant gift cards - picking ones that have outdoor patios and doing double duty as "hopefully this keeps them afloat" and "trying to pick a restaurant that my friends might feel safe enough to visit"

[spiffikins]

I *hate* those lists - I have never seen anything remotely helpful on them - not that it stops me from reading them desperately :D

TBH most of the gifts I have received are fairly forgettable - which is kind of sad, but I've accepted it. Not that they are bad - but anything that I *really* want/need - I buy it for myself, instead of hoping that someone will surprise me with it :)

That being said - the things that stand out as being surprising/useful -

I was totally shocked one year when I opened a birthday present, and it was a cordless drill! I apparently had mentioned that I needed to get one - and T heard me and remembered and they picked one out. I have used it multiple times and it was something that I definitely needed.

In the same vein, T&G bought me a really good chef's knife last year for Christmas - something I would never have bought for myself - and I've really been happy with it.

Similarly, eons ago, T gave me a Charles Viancin Lilypad lid amazon link and I use it (and a couple of others that I bought myself

[aome]

Ooh, those lilypad lids look interesting! Thanks for the suggestion/link.

Also, your friend has very strange taste in cheese. :P

[spiffikins]

he has strange taste in MANY things, tbh

[spiffikins]

Barely Buzzed Cheese

I have tried it - I honestly don't taste a lot of lavender or coffee - but I'm not a connoisseur :D

[siberian_angel]

In Germany, there are several companies offering experiences to gift rather than material things, like a ride in a hot air balloon and other things you can't easily do yourself. It's sort of like described in this article, but much more down to earth. The most well-known go-to companies over here are MyDays and Jochen Schweizer, and while some of the experiences do have their price, it's quite possible to find something for everyone, depending on likes, dislikes and of course money at hand.