To insure me, DW would have to use half her pay... I'll be working until I reach medicare. Spent two years uninsured, it was cheaper to pay the penalty. They didn't care I was unemployed, it was $13K/year for the insurance with a $6K deductible, based upon my prior to unemployment salary.
Fond memories. One of the reasons I loved Germany was Christmas time was like it was when I was a kid. As you were shopping, you could have the warm wine (sorry can't spell it's name) and freshly roasted chestnuts, but more importantly everyone was nice to everyone. Total strangers would strike up a conversation and just be nice. And the Danish chocolates were to die for... Just don't eat too many and drive.
One Christmas season, Mom skipped breakfast and lunch to get all the Christmas mail delivered. One of her houses got the Danish chocolates and apparently gave her six, which she promptly consumed without understanding what was in them. A house or two later knew me and called me to come help her finish her route. She had quite the hangover the next morning. BTW, she's a teetotaler. And she especially enjoyed the "Jack Daniels" chocolates.

