Vacation plans have expanded too far

DearAmy: My sweetheart wants to plan a family trip. At first it just involved our household and one other household. Now it has expanded to include plans involving many other households.

I am uncomfortable with this.

Thefamilies involvedhave made suggestions to make me more comfortable, such as the idea thatwe can check temperatures, etc., but I think it is a dangerous idea.

How would you navigate this?— Anxious Annie

Dear Anxious: I’m doing it by saying “no.” This can be surprisingly hard to do, especially when considering the competing agendas that surface during the holiday season.

I don’t consider myself in a particularly high-risk group, but I interact with others who are. I consider a “no” nowto be an investment in a future “yes.”

If your sweetheart decides to take this trip without you, he should be tested just before he goes, maintain safe practice while he is gone (masking, maintaining good ventilation, and social distancing), and then he should isolate elsewhere after he returns and reenter your home only after he has a safe test result.

You should assume that he will not maintain ideal COVID protocol while he is gone, but isolation and testing afterward should ease your mind, and might protect your household.

Dear Amy: Each day my husband and I read your column, state our answers, and then read your response. We’re really good. You’re better.

Your response to “Sick of Being Hit Upon” is modernday, spot-on perfect.

Thanks for our funway to start our day.

We’re learningandgetting better because of your responses.

Thank you!— Betty Dear Betty: Wow! Thank you so much. I owe you two some donuts.