I was told (Not asked. Told.) that I would be accompanying a family member on a spring break trip to Florida. Specifically, Orlando. Specifically, Disney World.
I like Disney World. Haven’t been there since High School. In fact I missed not one but two vacations there since, as both times I was starting a new job and didn’t want to take off right then. Since I’m going back to school and money’s tight, I hadn’t exactly figured any vacation money into my budget, making things tight, but my Orderer said the hotel and tickets would be paid for.
Now, this makes me semi-uncomfortable right there. I’m not a child anymore, and said family member is already helping me out A LOT financially while getting my second degree. So I already feel indebted. Of course, part of the problem is that the individual I’m looking after made no plans as usual, so I had to patch things together at the last minute.
But this is Spring Break. It’s the off-season On-Season, if you get my meaning. Prices are high, although I managed to get some kind of deal, but it’s still more than I make in a month for hotel OR tickets. Granted, I make very little just doing a student job. And my Orderer is… off to another hemisphere (technically, both other hemispheres, north/south and east/west) for a business trip. So, not exactly easy to contact. And I wasn’t told I was going on this or had to plan it until three days before we leave. And I didn’t get the actual dates until after 10:00 pm last night. I can chip in a little, but prices this time of year are nasty.
I feel nauseous. I feel like I did something terrible. I hate spending other peoples money. My family member I’m watching out for? Spends money, his and other’s like it’s going out of style.
Someone more sage and knowledgeable will come along and give you informed advice, but until then you have me.
Don’t feel bad! You get a free vacation to Disney World, the friggin’ Magic Kingdom. The person you’re accompanying didn’t plan ahead, so how is it your fault that tickets and accomodations are more expensive? You don’t have the money, they do. Stop worrying. You’re doing them a favour (heh) by going along, so try not to feel indebted and just enjoy yourself.
Your relative may even have done a little asking around, found out that that’s where people like to go on their spring break, and decided to take you as part of the whole “going to college” experience. Spaced-out rich folk are sometimes amazingly sweet.
That being said, I too have a serious problem spending other people’s money. Can’t order anything horribly expensive when out to dinner, etc.
One time, years ago, I was dating a guy whose father was a well-known architect. He invited me to his family gathering for Christmas Eve; but the father didn’t want a little punk urchin like me bolluxing up their staid holiday thing, so he tried to call me a cab to take me from San Francisco to San Bruno, about 20 miles and what seemed to me a huge cab fare at the time. I would only let him pay for a cab from there to the local BART train station. Looking back, he was a snob & I should have had no problem taxing his ass.
Your relative sounds like quite the opposite: the delightful and somewhat uncommon affluent person who doesn’t mind sharing. Go, have big fun, and don’t forget the Experimental Prototype City Of Tomorrow! (EPCOT) Now, that sounds like fun!
If you feel like dog vomit, first you have to find a dog then feed it such stuffs as to induce the dog-chuck reflex.
I suggest pan-frying it with a little olive oil and garlic to kill the entero-bacteria that set the dog a’chundering in the first place.
Always pick out the bones from the vomit first btw…many bones are dissolvable in a dogs stomach but not in ours. Hate to see you choke on the chuck, so to speak.
Make yourself feel better by doing your research beforehand, and figuring out all the “cut to the head of the line” stuff before you get down to Orlando.
There’s lots of books and websites that give tips on how to survive a Disney trip. My brother just went there, and with two little kids, avoiding long line waits was vital. My SiL identified which rides they absolutely wanted to go on, and apparently had their ride times in hand before they went.
I feel like I did something terrible. I hate spending other peoples money. My family member I’m watching out for? Spends money, his and other’s like it’s going out of style.
