I'm in the same boat as far as being addicted to my four footed family. I especially had to take a minute and respond that I too DREAD vacation. I also don't work outside my home (I like to tease my friends by telling them I'm a "kept" woman), and I think I would be lonely at home a lot of the time if I didn't have my fuzzbutts for company. This benefits them because they get more playtime and attention than the average house weasel. The problem is however, that my mother is always asking me to come visit her on the other side of the country. Last time I went I did take the ferrets, but I only had two then. I now have four, and not only would it be impossible for me to take them all - I wouldn't want to. Tending to two for the 13 hours it took me to get cross country last time was pretty stressing. My family loves the ferrets and understands my devotion to an extent. But when I cite them as a reason I can't just come visit at the drop of a hat they just say "well can't you board them or get a sitter?" They don't understand how hard it is to find someone you trust to care for your little ones, and more over that I really don't want to leave them for that long! I'm really dreading Christmas this year because I know I really don't have much choice but to go (I begged off last year). I'm glad to know that I can tell my mom that I'm not the only one suffering from ferret separation anxiety. Robynn and the Fearsome Foursome [Posted in FML issue 2776]