Many of us believe that we have to go home for the holidays—no matter how old we are, where we live or who we are with. For the first 30 years of my life, I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with my family in Canada. No matter where I lived, I always went home for the holidays for a banquet dinner with forty relatives. My grandmother and aunts lovingly prepared food for weeks. It was loud, chaotic and traditional. We were all expected to be there. In fact, I do not remember anyone breaking that rule…ever.

Fast forward to my married life. One year, my husband proposed that we go on a trip to Santa Fe...over the Christmas holidays! I could not imagine breaking our family's tradition.