Well I am just bursting with good news. We are going!!!!!! We just got back from dinner with my in-laws and they decided that we will all go. They were worried that we may need financial help in the coming months, and due to poor stock performance, they would not have the additional money (above the trip money) to help if we need it. So my f-i-l just wanted to be sure that we would be okay. He would've cancelled the trip for everyone, if we were going to need the money. He just did not want to spend frivoulously if we were going to be in trouble. But after a long talk, discussion of our financial situation (YUCK!!), he realised that we will be okay. He is a wonderful man who just worries about his kids, but we convinced him that we are really adults, and we can look after ourselves. (we could not afford the trip, but it is a gift, not something we were planning on paying for ourselves). So I am thrilled, psyched, ecstatic and busily planning my trip, only 25 days away now. Thanks for all the support and advice. Getting it out in the open, and having my DH initiate the conversation relieved minds on both sides of the issue. It's easy to forget, that families should just communicate openly.