[gifts, donations]

[wispfox]

I continue to prefer no gifts, due to not wanting more stuff which I just have to deal with in a couple years. However, this year, for those people who somehow feel obligated (I don't _think_ anyone reading me does, but just in case), I suggest donating to Heifer Interational on my behalf.

La!

(Come two years, I'll actually _want_ gifts again. Travel guides for each of the contiguous states in the US! And/or map books!)

Comments

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I don't feel obligated, but I just gave to them recently. :) They are one of my regular annual donation targets.

If you did not think of it already, I suggest you get a AAA membership before your trip. Membership includes maps and travel guides for any trips you are going on as well as their emergency service. There are other more entertaining guides but AAA guide books are a good basic resource to have in addition to any other guide books you might get.

[brynndragon.livejournal.com]

I find AAA politically offensive. With the largest offense being that they don't tell their members what they're lobbying for/against. In fact, the only info I've managed to find on what AAA does with the copious amounts of money it gets is a study it sponsored that claimed that cell phone usage while driving is just fine (there are multiple studies by other less biased organizations that state otherwise, I'll give links if people are interested and I can dig them out). Beyond that I've heard about them being anti-motorcycle (which is where I started digging into it, since I ride), anti-public-transportation, anti-pedestrian, anti-bicyclists - pretty much against anyone who might be on asphault in something other than a car. There are plenty of folks who offer AAA-like services (including travel guides) but aren't evil, such as Better World Club (http://www.betterworldclub.com/).

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

*sigh* seems like every big organization/company has some politically incorrect policies. I had not focused on AAA. I'm not currently a member, but was happy with their service in the past. I'll have to check out their policies more closely if I ever decide to get that service again.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Yep. That. :) (just said more or less the same thing, although you had more details)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

AAA is evil (http://www.betterworldclub.com/competition/aaa.htm). They work as a pro-highway, anti-environmental lobbyist (http://www.hybridcars.com/newsletter/hybrid-cars-news-0004.html#AAA). I much prefer Better World Club (http://www.betterworldclub.com/home.htm?join_code=MBIK0302).

Better World Club, however, doesn't have Travel Guides. Maps, yes.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

OK, you and brynndragon convinced me. That and reading the Sierra club article. :)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*grins*

[randysmith]

I'm going to ignore your expressed preferences to the extent of giving you a gift of a virtual *HUG* (and you can have a real one, too, when I see you next; aren't I generous? :-}).

I generally try to avoid the holiday gift-obligation-web too, mostly successfully. I also try to get things for people when there seems to be something that I think fits them; I suspect this is more rarely than 2/year, which I sometimes feel guilty about, but boy I hate trying to come up with the perfect gift for someone on demand :-J.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Hugs, yay!

try to get things for people when there seems to be something that I think fits them

Yep. Ditto. I also do a decent job of letting people _know_ that I don't do obligatory gift giving.

[bridgetester.livejournal.com]

My first thought was "But why not maps and travel guides now?!". Then I realized.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*smile* Travel guides now might be ok; maps almost certainly would be out of date. :)

(yes, you realized. I answer anyway!)