Vacation Dilemma; "Making a Good Master"

>things hopping on both coasts, simultaneously... if only I could divide myself in two<...

Tackling my musical goals, I have set the month of August as an arbitrary deadline for many of them. Why? 'Tis the end of that productive, historically "laid-back," "flow-of-things-is-different" season, Summer. It seems starting in September, the "flow" meanders, ambles, then strains uphill again.
I have the opportunity to vacation with my family in Washington State for a whole week during this critical month. I have no gigs booked - yet. No new album - yet. The question is, do I go on vacation, or do I stay home based on what activities (gigging, promoting) I could potentially be doing here in the city from August 13-20? Or do I give up a very real chance to see close family that I get to see once or twice a year, to be available to mere possibility? Will I get antsy spending a week with my family, antsy to practice and prepare musically, things I will not get to do, pianoless, in a cottage on the Pacific coast? Will I be distressed hanging out in my home city that week, if I don't go, thinking about the good times I am missing out on?

Thankfully, one real gig that I would otherwise miss if I went, I have managed to get rescheduled to a later date. Now I'm thinking that I SHOULD go. I want to go! But I want to be alert, remain on task, stay sharp on my skills, as well. And if I go through with the plan as mapped, gigs WILL be booked in that month that I'll need to be prepared for as soon as I get back. Oh, but I may just be able to handle that...

>I never think much about the art of sound mastering until I learn how much I'll pay for it<...

The person who masters my CD will have his work cut out for him. Honestly, it could probably use some mixing, still, too. The songs on the album will have been compiled from over half a dozen different settings, both live and studio. I've been told I could spend thousands of dollars paying someone with legendarily sharp ears to master my CD. I hope to spend about eighty.