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Two-retreat option for 2011?

Group FounderEmpoweredOKC
EmpoweredOKC
Time to bring up the topic that comes up every time. Each October, everyone starts feeling wistful about their Spring retreat experiences, and wishing they could gather one more time.

What I want to know about this is: are you all actually serious? If I booked a second "mini retreat" in October, would some of you actually attend?

This would not be the full-blown Bill Miller retreat (I just can't afford it, and as great as he is there are times we need just for different things, too). But we COULD do a sweatlodge, and I could get Tonya's literature professor to come in and do a workshop on "creative writing for people who hate journaling." This would be very low-key time together, for people who need that positivity in the Fall again.

Is this actually realistic, or when people say "I wish I could have a retreat in October!" is it JUST wishful talk?
Heptet
Heptet
I wouldn't be able to make two retreats a year without a serious life change aka an actual job with a wage..but I'd love there to be two :) If I'm lucky I could wrangle an early christmas present from family :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
OMGoodness...October is my favorite month if the year...so I'm thinking if I decide to do this one, I know I'd love it in October.
StehtFest
StehtFest
October sounds wonderful to me!
deleted_user
deleted_user
i would love two, but don't know if i could afford two. too bad we can't do it around here...i could take everyone for therapeutic horseback rides for the mini retreat! :)

as long as i can afford it, i'd do two. and i'm fine with hanging out and being low key. sounds great to me!
unfurling
unfurling
Actually, i think I would prefer this type of retreat. This year would probably be too difficult for me - two flights over the pond, too much time away from my children, to come in October. But, if you did this next year, I think I would choose the low key one. I found the sweatlodge the most amazing experience, and over this last year sometimes I have yearned for a similar way to express my emotions in a spiritual environment, to the point where I would have happily jumped on a plane there and then! So, I could not commit to this year, but would in subsequent years! I love the idea of creative writing too. Through my whole journey, this has been one of the positive things to come out of it - that I love to do creative writing, so it would be right up my street I think.
finalytime
finalytime
It would be right up the Brit's street and right up my alley. I would be in the ranks of those that don't like to journal, that woman would be a miracle worker if I learn how to write creatively.
butterfly9
butterfly9
I love the October idea, too. However, this year would not work for me. My son is getting Bar Mitzvahed at the end of September and my nephew is getting married in California in October. I would consider it the following year.

I really can only do this once a year. It will be soooooo hard to wait 18 mos. :(
AutumnFawn
AutumnFawn
I have not been yet, but think that be would be great for people who can't make the spring one. I missed it last year becaue of my kids program then the program got canceled last min. and I was upset, because I could have gone anyway...so, I am waiting for this year...I am doing my best not to chicken out...
I guess I should fill out the paperwork and send in my money so I won't.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think it is a good idea. Although I would probably not be able to make it because October is right when school starts. So to get time off would be almost impossible. But if I was not in school I would be all for going twice!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I would totally do October also! I must mention, though, that I am not sure I would be able to swing it financially this year... but if I could, I would. also, my kid's birthday is in October so I would not be able to make it if it fell on that day. But October is when I start to feel the winter gloom approaching, so I would love a low key weekend.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think two different-focused retreats is just fine. If it is October, it should be really early - like the first weekend.

Having two different themes might be helpful for those of us that want to 'retreat.' Maybe the spring can be full of Bill, crafts, sneaking out to bars,;-) etc... and the October one can be for more of us introverts who would just like a quiet reflection time in a safe space without all the glam. ;-)
StehtFest
StehtFest
Sssshhhh...there is no sneaking out to bars!!! We plan on going boldly, after the retreat!

I'm excited about both retreats, but I want to make clear -- to my sister introverts -- that the one in May is also low-key, in the sense that I was comfortable there as a shy or "slow to warm up" person. No one is ever forced out of their comfort zone. There are no obnoxious extroverts trying to drag you out of your safe little corner, and forcing you to try to act more like them. There are no wild life-of-the-party types who exhaust you with their noisy exuberance. All those things we introverts dread happening when we hear the word "retreat"? It's not like that at all.
Group FounderEmpoweredOKC
EmpoweredOKC
Good point...By "low key" I meant there wouldn't be a concert or visit by someone like Bill Miller. I should have used a word that means "just as peaceful, but without the more elaborate presence of a performer," but that word hasn't been invented yet.
finalytime
finalytime
Oh Crap Gracie, that counts me out for the Oct retreat! Introvert I am NOT!
finalytime
finalytime
Hahahha and Gracie, you must come to the May retreat! The only 'glam' you'll witness is Matt dressed in his beauty queen dress, stripper heals and Gaga locks.