costs of a free vacation

DH and I leave today for a working vacation – he’s working, I’m vacationing – a.k.a. we’re piggybacking on his companies bill. He gets to sit at a booth for two days talking to farmers and ranchers about money. In return, he gets a trip out west, hotel, food and rodeo tickets. I’m accompanying him. For the trip, our expenses include my food and drink.
It’s the expenses that will occur before and after the trip that will add up.
First we have to kennel the dogs – two of them – at $6 per day times 5 days: $60
Our oldest, in the third grade, didn’t want to miss school or activities, so he’s staying with our high school sitter and her family: $50
Our two youngest will accompany us two hours into the trip to stay at their grandparents. Cost of deprogramming them from spoiling? Our sanity.
Souveniers for the boys: $30 (we have to – helps with the guilt of going without them.)
So this “free” vaca is going to turn into at least a $200 event. (I eat cheap.)
But considering we don’t vaca alone ever, and we will be gone for three glorious nights and four wonderful days, that $200 is worth it.

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