I think you're doing the right thing by sending the courtesy text, honestly. I have a similar situation with a friend I drifted from and she still texts on holidays even though we have no contact throughout the year. I send a simple thank you/happy holiday back and don't make plans to get coffee or anything, I'm just cordial. They might be just holding on to the friendship or, like you said, are a gift-giver, but if the relationship is no longer there, you can just let them do their thing.

OMG in a weird way I needed to read this. My buddy from college just had a baby so I sent him and his wife some baby clothes but...we don't really talk anymore so he was just like thanks. 

At first I was offended but now I realize you gotta understand the energy you may get back in this world for what you put in to it. No expectations. 

"Is she looking for one in return? Is she hoping to breathe life into the friendship again? Or does she simply enjoy buying gifts?" I don't think it's 1 or 3, but a riff on 2. I don't think she's trying to breathe new life, but rather, honor the life it once had. It's a sweet gesture and it shows you meant a lot to her at one point, and that still means something to her. You're doing your part by saying thank you -- she just wants the tether to be there, and you're providing that! All good.

As someone who loves to give gifts like so so so much, I get this friend. At the same time, after one or maybe two years, I think I'd pick up the hint and stop sending one. Maybe by year three, it becomes just a card... Sending birthday gifts as adults is weird in the first place, so I think texting a thank you is more than enough! 

i send gifts sometime to my college roomie, for a birthday or xmas. if i see something i know she'd love, i may get it for her. we catch up every so often, def less than yearly

i love gifting and i love my friend. I can also be quite nostalgic

your Thank you text is a perfectly appropriate response to your friend's gesture. UNLESS it actively bothers you (has it become harassment?) - then you have every right to ask her to refrain from gift giving in the future

I was really close to a friend of mine when we were teenagers, but have since fell about of touch.  (We didn't have a falling out or anything — we just don't hang out or call each other anymore because life got in the way.) But, every single year, she sends me a really nice birthday gift, even if we hadn't spoken one word to one another in the previous year. 

I'm trying to figure out what's behind the gesture: Is she looking for one in return? Is she hoping to breathe life into the friendship again? Or does she simply enjoy buying gifts?

I feel guilty because I simply text a thank you, but never send her anything in return because... well, we don't talk. Thoughts?

Friend I don't talk to sends me a bday gift every year