I waited until after Christmas to stock up on outdoor gear I will need in Istria: jackets, pants, shoes, socks, knapsacks… To make sure the stock lasts, I am buying a few pairs of everything, too. As it turned out, nothing I had in mind was on sale. “This is a sure sign I have good taste,” I winked at one of the sale attendants. He only grinned politely, as though he sensed I was no fan of Christmas, either.