Vacationing in Vegas when your parents live there

Heya,

Have any of you had your folks move to Veags and has that changed how you vacation there (or do you even go there at all now for vacation)? I speak from experience here - folks moved out a couple of years ago - and my mom tells me 'you know that when you are here now it's not vacation, it's visiting family.'

Anyway, w. Vegas one of the fastest growing U.S. cities I figure I can't be alone here, and I am writing an article on the subject. Would any of you share your experiences, either here on the board or e-mail me directly at [email protected] (i can then contact you individually).

Thanks. Look forward to hearing stories.

Regards,

Russell

 

Not that my parents moved here. But we moved here a little over a year ago. We do the normal day to day stuff. Work, school, grocery and so on. However we still vacation here as well. When I have friends in town that I know I am going to be partying with, I stay in a hotel, therefore I am on vacation.

I am sure it will be the same for visiting your parents. If you come to Vegas and stay with them. Yes, you are visiting family. If you come here and stay in a hotel, have them meet you for dinner or shows or whatever. Then you are technically on vacation. They can go home, and you are still on vacation.

 

My parents are deceased but my favorite aunt and her dh live there. At first, they lived in the northwest section in a 4,000 sq. ft. house. I had my own suite which was amazing. Currently, they live in Henderson in Anthem. My quarters are somewhat more humble--in fact the guest room is barely larger than the full size bed inside it. The truth--I go to Vegas way more often than my aunt knows about. They're both in their 80's and their days consist of "where are we going to eat _____________?" (insert a meal here).

Here is why I kind of avoid this (all of this is true, by the way).

As a housewarming gift, I gave them a beautiful set of sheets (300tc) for the bed in the guest room, as my aunt told me she didn't have any full size sheets. On my first visit to this house, I lay down in the bed and the sheets were rough and scratchy. In the morning, auntie asked about the sheets. I lied and said they were fine. She said that she thought they were a little stiff but they would probably soften up once she washed them. [What??? you didn't wash them first?].

Breakfast is cereal. Poured my cereal and noticed no milk on the table. Went up to the fridge. Auntie asked what I needed. "I'm looking for the milk". "Oh, we don't keep milk in the house." "Well, I've got this cereal poured...". "We just use apple juice in our cereal."

Then, while her dh regales me with information about Alaska (including audio visual aids such as maps), my aunt makes my bed. Guess I should have done that before I came in for breakfast. While my aunt dresses, the lecture continues...and continues. Sometimes, the lecture is about my stock portfolio. Yes, I made the mistake, once, of telling him about some of my stocks. Now, I get to discuss them in detail....

When my aunt is ready, we head out. The husband drives. The husband is hard of hearing and losing his driving skills. I sit in the back with my eyes closed praying that I'll be asleep during the inevitable accident. Lunch is about 11am. Auntie does not cook so all meals are eaten out. (she made this clear when she married him--he's wealthy so it's not a big issue). Auntie and hubby like chain restaurants and Japanese buffets.

Over lunch, we discuss dinner options. They eat between 4 and 5 because of hubby's acid reflux disease. Can't go to bed too soon after dinner. Between lunch and dinner, we shop. If we go to the strip, I follow auntie around the shopping centers while hubby plays poker. Auntie doesn't gamble. She likes to shop at St. John. I can't afford St. John. I sit.

We meet her hubby at the agreed upon time and place to which we arrive a little early since we know that he will be there a little early and we do not want to keep him waiting or he will get antsy. I tell auntie that I will drive her car and take her shopping but her DH doesn't want to be left out. Hence, we have a timetable for shopping. What reality is this?

Sometimes auntie will come into the casino with me as she knows I like to gamble. She tries to be considerate. It's so difficult to gamble real money when your aunt is sitting next to you---watching (and judging). One time, she put a little money in the vp slot. After each hand, she cashed out and re-inserted the ticket. She did it so much she ran out of ticket paper. Finally, I asked her why she did that. Response: I want to see how much money I have left. I pointed at the right hand bottom of the screen.

At dinner I pray for one of two things: Either her dh will have a drink with dinner or it will be dark when we are finished. Either way, he will hand me the keys to drive.

We get home and watch some TV in the family room at a ridiculously loud volume. By 8pm, everybody is in pj's. The Alaska lecture resumes until my aunt drags him to bed.

There is no tv in my room.

I haven't been out to their house in 3 years. I am going next week. I have convinced my aunt that I will be staying in a hotel this time. She felt that her dh would feel slighted if I didn't stay at the house. I have explained that, at this stage in my life, I am experiencing night sweats and need a cooler room to sleep in. Here's the killer, when her dh's sons come out from L.A., they don't have to stay at the house. As my aunt explains it, "They like to gamble."

 

That's funny!
Thanks for the story.