Typically, they're not asking what goals you have set for the upcoming year, or how you plan to enhance the quality of your life in the year 2000.
Some plans are quite intimidating.
An acquaintance of mine rented a condo in Madrid and plans to celebrate the New Year in the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people will be in Time's Square, or downtown Chicago, or on ocean cruises, etc. etc. etc. I always thought it was strange for people to celebrate the arrival of a New Year, and then spend the next 12 months doing nothing worthy of the celebration. I have no idea how much it cost, but it s no exaggeration to say that the father of the bride easily spent more than I make in an entire year. The wedding was truly an extravaganza.