So, this year my family asked me what I wanted for Christmas. In general, I try to be a pretty content person. There's really nothing big I want, and I try to keep it that way. I mean, except for a nice Bosendorfer or Steinway....
But, this year, I went on Amazon and made a list of about 15 score collections I don't own yet and a few books on piano repertoire, playing, and practice, along with a couple biographies.
I just think it's funny.
I remember not to many years ago when I wanted a Playstation 3, or a new surfboard, or something like that. Now piano is my life now. I'm committed to piano in a new way where most of the rest of my future is pinned on succeeding in some way at my dreams on a piano, so I'm in. [and it's lessons like the lesson I had earlier today that convince me I CAN do it.] And this is reflected in my desires now.

Right there with you. Not too long ago I was asking for game systems and other pointless garbage. Now all I want are Henles. Lol!

I have told my family if they are unsure what to get me for christmas: LE CREUSET LE CREUSET LE CREUSET!

Trying out for next season's "Iron Chef"?

I always tell my family "a winning lottery ticket."

I hate Iron Chef. Or any of those reality shows that are more about the personalities than the food.

I like Good Eats . Best out of American food programmes anyway.

Yep, scores are the main thing on my list these days too. In addition to allowing family members a way to buy me (not terribly expensive) things that I really value and will use, it also saves me money throughout the year, because there are only so many standard repertoire pieces that a family member can get with reasonable effort, so I only allow myself to buy scores of really obscure things.

And then there's the gifting - I give family members recordings of myself playing, and they really seem to enjoy it. So the gift-giving circle completes itself

Yes. Let's not forget it's also about giving, "as we grow up," not just wanting/getting!

Regards,

I unplugged the Christmas machine 4 years ago. I tell folks to donate to charity for me, and any gift that is given to me will be given away*, and I do not purchase gifts for others at this time.

I do give gifts other times of the year, but the liberation from the craziness around Christmas is quite nice.

I still enjoy the music and the decorations (of others)

*If a Gibson J45 or Baldwin SF10 were to show up as a gift, I would have to reconsider. :-)

Forrest

I'm doing the same thing for most of my family. My mom and dad are getting an album of hymn arrangements on piano, and I might record some of my own compositions for others. I don't like the idea of money for gifts, doing something that requires significant time investment is much more meaningful to me. Giving is of course a part of the season!

LOL when i saw the title of this thread, my initial thought was also "Bosendorfer!" :p

I did something like that years ago, and what a relief!! No longer do I have to pretend to like stuff that is well-meaning but just totally wrong. And then there's re-gifting...ick.

And no longer do I have to drive myself crazy in a consumerist frenzy and still manage to give something the recipient will probably secretly be trying to figure out how to get rid of the minute they set eyes on it.

I never did get into the directive thing, where I told people very precisely what to get for me. Somehow, ordering up your gift seems counter to the concept, but I know it works for many.

I still do one solitary gift exchange, because it was the only one I actually thoroughly enjoyed year after year. Both sides always follow the same format - a sack or basket of gourmet goodies, amusing edible oddments, and wine. It's fun to put together, and since it's all consumables, there's no thought of having to later put on any show of enjoying the gift - after all, the idea is that it is supposed to disappear. Yay!! And how else would I have found out about the unique charm of shagbark hickory syrup, a jug of which was in my gift last year?