How Do you Know?

For me, this title is what goes through my mind daily about a million times in reference to a million activities and situations.  So my new thought is, how do you know when it is time to add solids?  And then what do you do when your baby would prefer to breast feed rather than take solids?  How do you know when you should force the issue of solids, or force anything really?  This is my stress to which I have no answer!
In my last post, I was able to write that my son was now ready for solids because he was showing the readiness signs, which he still is but will not accept the foods.  He wants to play with the dishes, spoons and bowls, but when you try and feed him he turns his head or spits as we try and insert the spoon.  I thought that perhaps this was because I was the one feeding him and he was refusing with the hopes of having the breast but once we switched to Daddy feeding, the same thing ensued!  We even tried my two year old feeding- quite the mess but we were willing to try anything!  So, no solids but a happy baby!  I guess we will try again in a couple of weeks.  As long as he is happy, so am I!
And just to note- one week away from being seven months old!  Back to the internet to search for common situations I guess.