NOT meeting the parents...your opinions PLEASE!

I'm frustrated (once again!) and was hoping to get some outside opinions. My boyfriend of 5 months and I were talking about flying me to California for a week in July to meet his family and see "his element." We lightly toyed around w/ the idea for a few weeks, and finally had a big talk about it last night. I personally, would LOVE to go...I am dying to meet his family, and take our relationship to the next step w/ this. When we talked, while he told me he wanted me to go, I could tell he was hesitant about something. He explained that he really wants to see me in his element b/c "I dont truly know him 100 percent until I see him happy in California." However, on the flip side, his parents dont know a whole about me or "us" b/c he feels too awkward discussing these types of things w/ his parents. Evidently, it's always been an "off limits" topic for them. So, his parents would be assuming that our relationship is possibly alot serious and something that it's not (and I wouldn't blame them...he isn't spilling, but he's bring his girlfriend across country for what they think is to meet the family). However, I'm getting the impression he would want to take me more to see California than to see his family. I told him that California and his parents will be around for a while and that the timing of this needs to be right. If he isn't 100 percent into this, it's going to be a fiasco, b/c I'll be looking to him for support while I'm out there! So, we decided I shouldn't go...and I think it's a good decision, b/c if he wasn't ready, it would end up being an awkward mess. However, he's frustrated b/c he feels he's damned if he does, damned if he doesnt...and he's RIGHT! While it would be a mess for me to go, in a way, not having me go is hurting our relationship too! He told me that "he wants our relationship to progress, but he knows he's taking a step back w/ this, and he's afraid this is going to make me take three steps back." WELL YEAH! I feel disappointed, and completely rejected. I've opened up myself and my family to him, and he's not reciprocating! He's right...my natural defense mechansims are kicking in and they ARE telling me to take "three steps back". What do you all think?