I also spend time and money on my animals and it makes it hard to vacation. I do have a couple of people who will come out and feed everyone, though, but it is such an imposition. I only have a few chickens (5 right now, but I live in town and can't have many and spring is coming), 3 dogs, 1 button quail and 2 aquariums (20 gallon and 65 gallon). Between the chickens, quail, dogs and fish, it is a burden that I wouldn't wish on my friends, having to learn all the different feedings. I used to think it was a waste of money and felt guilty when I started with the chickens and quail, but needed them as stress relief for my job. And I dearly love my chickens and quail) I had two dogs then, but since have added one. They are family. The aquariums were an accident- I had an aquarium that I was using to house a couple of button quail, but they eventually died, so there it was staring at me, so I got fish. A friend said here mother was getting too old to manage her big tank, so she gave it to me ( the mother is 4 years older than me, so hmmm) I just couldn't say no.
So here I am with a menagerie and trying to be guilt free. They do keep me busy, though.
