[Bulk] RE: [Idyllchat] 2 Weeks in Switzerland

[Phillip King]

Jerry,
    No I wouldn't.  We've got all the family we can afford, thanks.  No need to add to it.
    You know, it may sound like we are overly indulgent parents and grandparents, but this is a family trip that we have dreamed about ever since we took our son and daughter, both of them then single, to the Heartland back in 1993.
    After they married and had children, we had to wait until the grandsons became old enough to enjoy and appreciate the experience.  At our ages--I'll be 68 in May and Jane is now 66--we figured that we'd better do this trip while WE are still young enough to do the hiking and are able to keep up with the kids and grandkids.
    My dad was a great guy and a history buff who always wanted to visit England.  He was going to retire at 55, but his company talked him into staying on until age 58 to help them finish a major project.  He did, and died the following year of a massive heart attack.  He never saw England.
    I resolved years ago that I would never set aside major goals until "someday."  I've had heart bypass surgery, heart stents, and prostate cancer, so I figure, given my health history, green bananas may be a long-term investment.
    Carpe Diem, my friend.  Even though you may be in great health, you could step off a curb tomorrow and get run down by a small car or a big truck.
    I apologize that this is a long explanation or justification for why this trip is important to us, but I would much rather do it now than live to 95 and say to myself, "Gee, I sure wish we had gone on that family trip to Switzerland that we talked about 27 years ago.  That would have been a lot of fun."
    Three last thoughts for all Idyllchatters:
    1. No man ever said on his deathbed, "I should have spent more time in the office."
    2. A sign behind an Airline ticket counter: "Why not fly first class?  Your heirs will."
    3. A quote from Errol Flynn's autobiography, "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" --
        "Anyone who dies with more than $10,000 in their bank account is a failure."

    Enjoy your travels!  And, enjoy them often.
    Phil King, Spring Lake, MI 
    Phil King
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jerry Clancy 
  To: Phillip King ; Idyllchat 
  Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 3:10 PM
  Subject: [Bulk] RE: [Idyllchat] 2 Weeks in Switzerland


  Would you consider adopting me?

   

  Jerry

   

  From: idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com [mailto:idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com] On Behalf Of Phillip King
  Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 2:20 PM
  To: Idyllchat
  Subject: [Idyllchat] 2 Weeks in Switzerland

   

  Dear fellow Idyllchatters,

      This July we are taking our 2 kids, their spouses, and our 4 grandsons, ages 7 to 15, On a 2-week Untour to the Swiss Heartland (Meiringen).  We want to provide each family with a reasonable amount of spending money to cover their groceries, restaurant meals a few times a week, plus money for admission fees, extra transportation costs over and above the Railpass, and activities they might want to see and do.  Our problem is, what is "reasonable" for a family of 4 per week in Switzerland?

      We were last there in 2005 when the dollar was a lot stronger.  In addition, Jane and I travel very inexpensively.  When we go hiking and day-tripping we usually pack snacks and a lunch in our backpacks, we eat at restaurants only a couple of times a week, and we skip the really expensive activities, like the Jungfrau, para-gliding, etc.

      We would like to pay the way for most of whatever it is the kids and grandkids want to do, but we expect them to dig down into their own pockets if the things they choose to do are "big ticket" items.

      We would appreciate your thoughts on today's costs for a family of 4 for a week in the Heartland.

      Thanks for your help.

      Phil and Jane King, Spring Lake, MI
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