First New Impediment to Istanbul: Golden Retrievers

My dad upped the opportunity cost of going to Istanbul for Spring 2012. He and Mom are planning their late-February, 2012 trip to Fort Myers, Florida, and they're hoping I can save them possibly $1,000.00 or more in boarding costs by babysitting their three golden retrievers for most if not all of the days they will be gone.

Ordinarily I would be eager and happy to help. The opportunity to help out this time is especially appealing because my parents did not approve of my recent decision to quit the job I'd held for well over ten years. They took the news very well, though. I've made serious mistakes in the past and gone through periods of deep shame as a result. I appreciated enormously that, while they did not approve of this decision, they gave me essentially zero grief.

The idea of helping Mom and Dad in this respect, and the sadness I feel about possibly letting them down, is enough that I seriously ponder postponing, which could ultimately mean foregoing, the Istanbul opportunity altogether. Articulating that possibility almost immediately makes it seem like a shortsighted move. In five or ten years, how would I feel thinking that I passed on the opportunity to study for a semester in Istanbul to babysit dogs for a week and a half?

Of course that wouldn't be the only reason I pass on the opportunity; there is the financial burden, and being away from my fiance and my daughter. But I had decided to proceed with the opportunity in spite of those costs. The golden retriever babysitting would become the tipping point.

I was already afraid to tell my folks about the Istanbul opportunity, afraid they will think I am going too far: quitting my job was a bad enough move, now I am getting carried away. Whatever their thoughts would've been about me going abroad, now I know I will be disappointing them by not being available to do the dog-sitting.

I flat lied when my dad broached the dog-sitting idea today. I said I would be available to help. I did not feel ready to break the news of Istanbul on the spot like that. My plan had been to make sure I have the financial picture in order first. I have a financial aid meeting planned for November 9. I do not think I will wait that long to tell them. Would rather get the disappointment out there as soon as possible.