Occupy and Buy Local

 I will be the first to tell you that I am not the person with the most seasonal cheer. I loved Christmas as a child, then I grew up and realized what the holiday was all about. I know there will be many that disagree with this, but the reality is people like to celebrate gift giving over a person in history's birthday. Don't get me wrong, I love giving and receiving presents. What I don't like is the social stigma that engulfs the idea of forced giving. It is silly. How meaningful can that giving be? Unless you really mean it...

Enough of the bah humbug, I am actually excited about the gift giving process and only need two more gifts to pick up next week to be finished. This year I did a couple of things different. One, I 'co-adopted' a child from an orphanage in Naco, Sonora, Mexico for Christmas and will be celebrating with little Emmanuel this Sunday. I gotta say, buying clothes and functional toys for a 12 year old was pretty cool. I bet this kid has the coolest outfit on the block too! I can't wait to see him in his fly jacket. The other difference is I set out to buy all givings local. I love our Farmer's Market and the stores in Old Bisbee, why not share the goodness? I shop there for myself, why seek elsewhere for others? Tucson's Summit Hut was the furthest a present came from. I wish I could share all the cool things, but I have yet to hand them out. Possibly one of the recipients will share a comment? Probably wont happen.

Occupie Bisbee- All that is wanted is a piece of the pie...

While many people are still fueling the Occupy Movement (go them!), one way to really stick it to the proverbial man is to steer clear of the box chain stores that kill small businesses. Find and check out something local. Have a conversation with the person who owns or works there, they are a part of your community. I love knowing that I have an olive lady, a soap lady, and garlic guy, among others. Heck my bread lady uses the olives from my olive lady. Full circle I tell ya. I understand not everyone lives in a hip town like I, but I bet if you look around you might find someone out there that is surviving the try-ousting from larger corporations. And, the conversations are better than those had at ___________ (enter your chain box store name here) because the people tend to be in a better mindset, or possibly just cooler, not sure.

Photo by SLee, Jacked from Occupy Bisbee's Facebook page

Jacked from Bisbee Enclave's Facebook page

 Although this is my trick and sanity salvation for the holidays, it is something I have tried to incorporate in my daily life as well. For me it means so much more that I know the people who make, prepare, etc. the items I use in my life. Like when I bought a new hoodie from a lady that hand makes them at the Farmer's Market, and the next week after its purchase I saw her and she exclaimed that I had a hat she made and she loves to see that. So do I. Speaking of homemade items, check out my friend at 'High Rises to Hiking Boots' who is making green holiday decorations that are pretty cool, I must say. I might be stealing her shared ideas pretty soon since the holiday hanging she made really livened up her casa and will do wonders to my flat as well.

So in all, Happy Holidays, which ever you one you choose to celebrate! And be safe out there too...