Merchants here put up Christmas displays, but there are not stores everywhere unless you intentionally decide to go to Town to go shopping. There is just the one town, hence the capitalization. You don't go to Hamilton--just to Town. Not being in a car, the radio is rarely on and when it is, the stations play only 70s soul, reggae or hip-hop. I suppose we could listen to our iPods on the bikes , looking at the screens, picking out songs or, perhaps watch a video while driving the bike, but I think you are only allowed to do that if you are born here. Christmas decorations go up in Town, but it is hard to take tinsel snowflakes seriously when juxtaposed against palm trees. Poinsettias are hung on the poles outside--and they live. They grow here. Poinsettias that don't die as soon as they are purchased--it's like a fairy tale! And the weather! Sure it is getting a little colder, windier and rainier; but the reality is it never gets much below 16C and when the sun comes out it is beach-worthy. There are no snow flurries. Not even a good stretch of rain to remind us of the season Vancouver-style.
And so we never really felt that Christmas-y. Rather than 'decking the halls' as December wore on, we spent our time exploring more of Bermuda and heading off to Florida for a few days. Although we knew we would miss the children and other family and friends, we really didn't think it would be anything other than a nice vacation. And it certainly was! We met up with friends in Key West and enjoyed Christmas aboard their boat. We did not sit around a Christmas Tree enjoying the twinkling lights and a hot toddy; rather, we watched 6 foot tarpon swimming around in the blue light off the stern and heading to a local watering hole for coconut mojitos (us, not the tarpon). Flights being what they are, we returned early to Bermuda to a few days of glorious weather--not the gale force winds that had been lurking for weeks. We found a few more secluded beaches to explore.
A wonderful, relaxing December vacation for sure, but Christmas? No. Christmas is about the family, the children, the friends, the shopping, the decorating (the bills) --all the things we thought we could do without--just for one year. We were wrong. We can't complain (and be taken seriously) about anything during this year--but if we were going to complain, it would be to say that we never missed our family and friends more than over Christmas. My mother was fond of saying that all she wanted for Christmas was peace and quiet. Recent photos suggest I resemble my mother more than perhaps I may want to, but in this area we are not alike. Bring on the family! Bring on the shopping, decorating, cooking! All I want for Christmas is noise, confusion and family. Next year we will be drooling every time we hear the ring of the cash register whenever we go Christmas shopping. 
