I am a product of the previous generation. My parents were both married multiple times, my mother had six children before meeting my father who had two, together they created three more. It was a hectic and exhausting childhood filled with love, hate, drama and lessons. Overall I enjoy my siblings from afar.
I learned poorly from my parents. I too have been married too often, one from marriage one, two from marriage two and marriage three brought me three ready made children. Luckily three of the six are out and on their own and one is outish leaving two at home.
My siblings have decided last August that we should rent one of those ridiculous properties near Orlando for a weekend to have essentially a family reunion. My nieces and nephews were all on board so I sent out share of the ridiculously high rental to my youngest (and most trustworthy) sister. Fast forward to today o'clock... of the 65 people that were "hell yeah!" only 20 have paid. 15 have outright canceled and 30 have minimal deposits but are acting as if they aren't going.
Why do people do this? If you aren't capable 3 months out state it so that the remaining folks holding the bag can prepare for the financial hit. One way or another I'm either losing out on my vacation time or I'm paying 3x more to go some place that I would never choose.
What would you do in this situation?
So who is actually holding the actual bag here? Is there a cancelation fee? Does that make more sense than losing thousands. Sorry it sounds like you got the E36 M3 end of the stick here.
I only vacation with extended family because a very well off family member pays for the beach house. Otherwise there is no way I'd spend my week off with them.
Take the money hit and go. You just weeded out the half of the family that you wouldn't want to spend a week with.
matthewmcl said:
Take the money hit and go. You just weeded out the half of the family that you wouldn't want to spend a week with.
and that's worth the price of admission right there.
in for $20. who's with me?!?!
QuasiMofo (John Brown) said:
What would you do in this situation?
Crikey. My wife and I and two sons often have difficulty making vacation plans and doing things together and we've had our share of fiascos. Sixty-five people on a family vacation? I'd take my lumps, make a few notes, and move on.
Scotty Con Queso said:
So who is actually holding the actual bag here? Is there a cancelation fee? Does that make more sense than losing thousands.
My youngest sister (47 and is VP level at a major military contractor, she would feel the hit temporarily but not for more than a few weeks)
I generally protect myself from losses at this level, unless they are project cars...
Final payment was apparently due today and the youngling had to hold the bag.
Down to 27 adults and 13 children of which 4 adults with 5 children are unpaid with today being the due date.
That could mean that it may be a quiet weekend!
My suggestion:
1. feign illness.
2. Leave for diagnostics and treatment.
3. spend the day at Kennedy space Center.
4. Periodically text with reports on your "progress".
docwyte
PowerDork
6/14/23 1:45 p.m.
This is totally normal. Everyone is down for the plan until it's time to pay, then it's crickets. It's best to not do a shared expense, like a house or whatever. Easier to say, "We'll attend but we're arranging our own lodging/transportation/whatever"
Your thread title "Family Vacation - It Sounds So Simple" is totally inaccurate. This isn't a family vacation, this is a massive undertaking that can ONLY be fraught with disaster.
Personally, with 65 invited, I'd have passed. There's NO WAY someone isn't getting financially screwed, and there's NO WAY the home-owner isn't going to asses $10K in damage / cleaning fees above and beyond what's already agreed to.
