OMG- that is exactly how I feel about traveling away from home!! I am dreading going to Europe next summer with DH. I have 2 cats, 4 dogs, 17 hens, and two aged, difficult to manage geldings, as well as a yard/garden full of flowers. Sigh… and my DH just doesn’t understand how stressful all the planning will be to get the place ready to vacation away, as well as find a qualified farm sitter. Our kids (adults) are useless with our animals-- the last time our son stayed here for two days, he let the cats outside (they DO NOT GO OUT–coyotes!) and didn’t give the dog his medications. Despite clear instructions.
The added cost of either boarding dogs, hiring a farm sitter for two weeks or boarding the two horses and having family care for the dogs/cats/chickens/yard is not something to be ignored either.
Good luck Pehsness!