Does anyone really like these? Like the ones where you see people once a year and just talk about how work is or if you took a trip? I'm not from a family that does this so I don't exactly have my own opinion but it just seems pointless.

Eta: thank you for all the perspective, good to know there are some strong family ties out there! I have something similar with friends.

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[–] 6 points 22 hours ago

I think there are many sliding scales that apply simultaneously. One is age. I used to look forward to this sort of thing when I was a kid and the enthusiasm has decreased since then at the pace of a falling parabola. To a point where I moved far away. Number of certifiable assholes present is another one. If you can hide with the good guys, it's okay. If there is no way to escape, it sucks. These days are held to please that part of the family which is closer to death of natural causes. So another sliding scale is how much do you want to please your elders. How is the food? That might be worth it alone. And as a last example, how much do you like your relatives? Configure these sliders and you get your opinion. Anything from absolutely hating it to loving every minute is possible and no opinion wrong.

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