I lost my wife last year. Cancer, not divorce. Not the same, but similar. I had been dreading Christmas until I gave myself permission to skip it. My reindeer stayed in the cellar, and my boxes and boxes of decorations stayed in the attic. Well-meaning family and friends were bound to call or visit, which would have been hell. Instead, my two dogs and I spent a couple days in my retro camper in a national forest. I’ll probably do the same next Christmas, and again any time I’d rather be alone than taking care of people who feel sorry for me.