"6) Since this is a completely optional trip (No friend or family member in need and no family event), I think couples SHOULD make these decisions together."
Now, if this were a trip that was going to cost $1000, yes...I would agree that in that case it probably should be a joint decision. However, many couples (such as my H and I) have a dollar limit to the financial decisions we can make without consulting the other. As has already been discussed...it's not that Hairdog and his wife are struggling, they aren't...this is a control issue (I believe). What I find interesting is that his wife isn't happy for Hairdog that he's getting the opportunity to do something for himself....so inexpensively. We all need to do things for ourselves every now and then.
I would never discuss a trip like this with my H...in fact, I've taken trips like this to see my best friend in NM and didn't discuss it with him. I simply picked a weekend I knew would be most convenient for my H (so as not to interfere with plans of his) and made my plans. The only thing I discussed with him was that the weekend I chose was indeed a good one for him (as far as keeping our son without any other conflicts would go....like things he wanted to get done outside the house and such.) One thing I did do though, was throw out an invite for him to go along if he wanted to....but he opted for me to have a mommy free weekend instead. Just some thoughts on that. But then perhaps THAT is what you mean by discuss?
