I have read the whole thread, thanks.
From what I've gathered, here and other places, you can *technically* play more than one family, but by doing so you forfeit all progress. I was simply asking for clarification on this, not asking anyone to preform brain surgery or learn rocket science. Yes, I made an account (actually, I had one previously, but was usually in lurk mode and apparently lost it in some house cleaning) to ask a question. Shock and horror!