We just finished a few wonderful days of holiday / fun activities with friends and family. We have more planned this week.

We went to a terrific Lady A Christmas Concert, shopped an indoor Holiday Market, enjoyed lunches with friends, went to a fun Minnesota Wild game with buddies, drove my Jeep in a holiday light parade, watched a silly Hallmark movie, and were able to pretty much completely finish our Christmas shopping. Fun, festive & productive.

One of the great things about early retirement is having the time to really enjoy the season. The 50-60 hours per week others spend working & commuting are a thing of the past. We even spent the first week of the month at our Florida place and also enjoyed the holiday activities down there.

These last few days have inspired this year’s early retirement reimagining of Clement Clark Moore’s wonderful, holiday tale …

’Twas ten days before Christmas, with not one crowd in sight. Our hero was shopping in the calm, weekday light.

Most workers were busy from morning till five. The stores were so peaceful — they felt half-alive.

The aisles they were empty, the checkout was fast. No lines and no pushing, no shoppers amassed.

He strolled and he lingered, took time at his pace. With a smile of relief on his relaxed, happy face.

For this was the secret that few ever knew: Retire a bit early, and Christmas feels new.

No weekends of chaos, no traffic or strain. Just quiet mid-mornings again and again.

When Saturday came with its noise and its rush, and parking lots filled in a holiday crush …

He stayed right at home with a grin full of cheer. While the crowds did their scrambling far, far from here.

He watched every movie, Christmas tree all aglow. He sipped cocoa unhurried, letting the holiday spirit flow.

No rushing, no planning, no “back to the grind”. Just long, open hours the workers couldn’t find.

If the concerts went long, or the bright movies, too. He savored the moments, his joy only grew.

No watching the hours, no worrying why — the weekend goes quickly and vanishes by?

Then Sunday night came and the clocks ticked once more. The world rushed ahead like it always before.

But he settled in happy, relaxed and content. Knowing well how his holiday hours were spent.

So remember this tale as the season draws near: There’s a calmer Christmas that waits every year.

It’s known by the few who’ve stepped out of the race — A quiet, slow holiday, gentle and sweet in its place.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all—take your time!

Poem by ChatGPT (with significant editing!); Image: Pixabay