Then this IS interesting. It's probably like what they say about marriage problems, it's not about the money at all. It's about how come all of a sudden they dont know you or trust you? Why did you become a stranger in your own home - when your stepfather moved In? Why didnt you have any goodwill to fall back on? These are the questions im hearing repeated in this situation, now that you explained your history more. You have good insight. I love masterson, I have several of his books. And of course kohut