Seem here re the tree. I grew up with a real tree, every year. Moving into my first apartment, and living in apartments for 15 years, I had a small fake one -- 3 feet.

THE MOMENT I bought this house, I went back tot the real tree! Bought the house, with a closing in Nov, we moved in on Dec 2, and I had a REAL tree up that year and several years after.

A real tree, the set up, seems to me to be a 2 person job. Dad just isn't up to it, so 2 (or 3?) years back, I got a 4 foot fake one. This year, I did upgrade, on Black Friday I bought a new 6 footer BUT -- it is prelit, and the branches are hinged, not individual hooks. Quite the time saver. As Dad is able to do less and less, plus needs more help from me, as the pet family has grown, I have had to make compromises as to where I put my energy. (Plus, I am not getting younger, but we won't go there, ha haaa).

The biggest "hit" for us, was the first year after my Grandfather (Dad's dad) passed. All my life, we spent every holiday, so Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, at my grandparents' home, with all the extended family. (My Mum's family was in England, so not doable.) Suddenly, everyone had to make new plans. Dad's brothers and sister had married children, plus grandchildren, so I suspect it was easier on them. For us, neither my bro nor I ever married, neither of us had any kids. So we went from a house of 27 people to a stay at home the 4 of us (My Mum was still alive back then).

And now, it is the 3 of us: Dad, bro and I. The 2 "men" are traditional Italian males, and don't do much re cooking, decorating, cleaning up. I do get my bro moving to help now and again. This often leads to an argument, though.* And of course, I no longer push Dad to do anything except care for himself a bit more.

*Along the lines of, "I was happy to go eat out at a restaurant, I wouldn't be clearing the table there, YOU are the one who wanted to make Auntie Anne's dressing and Nanna's side dish and Mum's sweet potatoes . . . ." Apparently the traditions don't mean nearly as much to bro as they do to me.