A few years ago our family started changing the way we gave gifts to one another.

Instead of giving more “things,” we steered toward a tradition of giving experiences. These are typically fun activities or some kind of cool adventure that would (hopefully) create a lasting memory.

We’ve given Nerf guns and ski vacations.  For Christmas this year, Jeff gave his nephews a rafting campout adventure that will be redeemed this summer. We will do a two-day float trip sandwiching a night on a sandbar roasting marshmallows under the stars. Part of the gift is the anticipation – they get to look forward to a new experience and count down the days.

Another way we’ve enjoyed this tradition is with gift cards.  If you get cash, you can only use it on fun things: dates, movies, and mini-golfy activities.

Of course, there are a few downsides to this style of gifting. If you’re the kind of person who is crappy about follow through, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Also, there’s not that immediate gratification (but then again, birthdays and Christmases are immediate gratification overload).

Of all the bucket list things Jeff has experienced in his world travels, riding in a hot air balloon had long eluded him. Amanda gave Jeff a Christmas gift many years ago (I won’t say exactly how many but it rhymes with “spanine”) promising that he would one day ride up-up and away in that beautiful balloon.

Last week, she finally made good on her gift, and together with friends Mellissa and Duncan, he got to ride over Napa valley. Merry Christmas in May!  It was worth the wait 🙂