Does anyone prefer low- key holidays?

Yes! I don't decorate for the holidays because it's just so much extra work. My ideal winter holiday is drinking mulled wine and eating cookies.

I'm the one who wants the house decorated - but H is the party animal. I detest having to do so many social events at the holidays, I'd much rather just have a quiet holiday at home - but between work and family obligations, it's just not possible - it's completely draining though. Luckily, my office closes the week between Christmas and New Years, so I have some respite time after all the events, and we always do NYE at home.

I love the holidays= the lights, music, cookies, get togethers and everything else. FH likes MOST of that as well, though he is not as big a 'people person' as I am. We start decorating immediately after Thanksgiving. He is like a little kid with his train set up @@ We both decorate the outside of the house as well. I do think being retired makes a huge difference - we aren't rushed to decorate everything on a weekend off, and a lot of our get togethers are during the week (and we don't have to worry about 'the next day').