In the back of our minds, always, was the question of how we would ever make it out in time to make a flight to Hawaii fora long-scheduled family reunion and vacation.
We buy a sofa instead of a ski trip, not taking into account that we will get used to the sofa very quickly and that it will stop being a source of happiness, while the vacation will likely stay in our minds foralong time.
One overlooked alternative is a study-abroad vacation, which is as suitable for long-term university students as for families trying to fill a couple weeks in August.