A new Christmas tradition? One which changes the macro-economic dynamic?

A Christmas Tradition for 2011 I was talking to a friend today about an email he got and the concept of changing the way we do Christmas, and birthdays and anniversaries and ...etc. etc.... But specifically we talked about Christmas and how it seems to always be a focus on "stuff" and as Christmas creeps up on us, how we all have multiple options and choices for those we might want to buy gifts for. The multitudinous Southeast Asian and Chinese child labor camps - oops, I mean factories, are putting everything in to high gear to crank out more of all the latest technology and also all of the cheap labor products which so many of us seem unable to live without these days. Most of which is manufactured at the expense of those in North America who used to be the people making the stuff we had to have. American and Canadian labor has taken it on the chin in recent decades as the foreign manufacturers have introduced extremely cheap labor and shoddy materials to capture the manufacturing market. There is another option though, and it revolves around the idea of staying local with our purchases and thinking outside the box instead of thinking what to put in a box. The idea is to give the gift which shows real concern rather than a feigned show of caring for those we care enough about to offer gifts to. Gifts which are made not just in America, but are also able to be produced or offered locally. Made in America! Made in Canada! Who in their right mind wouldn't like to have a gift certificate to a local restaurant, barbershop or hairstylist? Who would turn down a free gym membership to carry out those poorly thought out New Years resolutions we all seem to make? Detailing for your Uncle's car? Car Wash certificate for Auntie Maude? Why Not? I made some calls today to the local car wash and auto detailers and they both are more than willing to sell gift certificates to get their money up front and wait on the people to come in later to access the service. New Blu-Ray or flat screen TV on the list for Grampa? Or is it possible he might want his fuel oil tank filled? Maybe Grandma would like a gift certificate to a lawn maintenance company? Do you have a friend who likes to go bowling, how about a book of gift certificates for a lane at the local bowling alley? Nice restaurants are an easy choice, or even a doughnut shop or for those of a less fastidious culinary nature, one of the local fast food joints. Or how about a complimentary house cleaning for Granny, your sister with five kids or a co-worker? All of the local merchants are likely to be more than just moderately willing to offer gift certificates for anything they have, and the real beauty of the process is how much it would be possible to keep the local economy from taking another turn for the worse. Car tuneups, computer repairs, flowers for a month, tickets to a local play (my wife would be on board for that one), a cord of firewood for the father-in-law? The possibilities are huge, all it takes is a drive down the street to see the local merchants who could fill the need for the ones we intend to purchase for, to realize there is more than just a new iPod, laptop or sweater made in China or Viet Nam to meet the need.