LostGirl had a great idea to start a thread discussing where we would go if we could take a retreat. I would like to be on a beach, with a bbq grill full of steak and a cooler full of beer. No kids on this vacation though, just my partner. Where would you go and what would you do?
Instead of a vacation, I'm thinking more of a place to go to recover, heal, and regain my strength... so I can return and reclaim my life!! So, with that in mind, I included some photos above and my fantasy description below:
Surrounded by lots of water but NO mosquitos, ticks, bugs, snakes, spiders, etc... and LOTS of clean, crisp, (VERY HIGH THREAD COUNT) white cotton linens... There'd be a communal place for dining, but small, private areas too and we'd have great, gourmet chefs creating fun, new dishes (all cooked according to our personal needs of course!) for us to try and to share with our friends! It would be on a giant estate (remember, this is a fantasy so stay with me...) - the main house would be an Edwardian mansion. It would have a "quirky" library, a shooting range, and a fully stocked art studio (everything from sculpting to welding to blowing glass to drawing to painting to ceramics) where we'd get lost in our art, and deconstructing/ reconstructing the way we perceive our creations. There'd be some smaller homes on the property, one would have a Mardi Gras theme, one would make you feel like you're in Jamaica (but not so sweaty!), one like a log cabin, deep in the woods and one like a coastal cottage, we could stay at the homes when we needed private time to recover or simply to pray, meditate, write or just get away from it all (yes, I'm sure that even in my fantasy retreat, I'd still need a change of pace from time to time).
We'd have the best physicians and nurses, and they'd treat all of our needs - physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental. There'd be no guilt for simply sitting quietly, or for saying "I'm sorry, I can't do that, I really need to rest right now" and every day we could lounge in sauna's, hot tubs, and enjoy wonderful, full body massages (and a few manis/pedis would be nice too!!). The experts would explain our tests, meds, symptoms and the illnesses we're fighting to us clearly and honestly and they would take time to learn from us, to hear/ observe/ engage in a two-way discussion about this disease. They'd take what they learn from us, and they'd improve the treatments, they'd make it easier for the next wave of fighters like us.
OK, that's the best I can I do right now - I can't wait to hear from everyone else!! :)
Hi LostGirl,
I love your post! The pictures are absolutely amazing and everything you described sounds like heaven. I like that you included doctors and nurses as well. Your retreat sounds like a place I would never want to leave! Now I wonder who will pay for all this ... :-)
Hi dkel,
I like your idea of a 'miracle room'- that is very creative and thoughtful. Anything to give us the opportunity to gain wisdom without pain sounds good to me!
You know I was thinking, my dream retreat might be in Australia- I could explore a place I have never been and also visit you in the great outback!! Well, we can dream right...
Hey - THIS IS FANTASY!!!! We're not supposed to worry about how/who pays in FANTASY!!!! ;)
Touche' LostGirl you are absolutely right. there is no worrying about who pays in the fantasy. our fantasies are already paid for. I think some of the places and activities we have been talking about could work as a focus point in meditation. To clear the mind, we could imagine these fantasies and relax into the experience. Who knows maybe an otherworldly epiphany will come from vicarious retreats!
Sounds absolutely beautiful dkel! I love the diversity in the U.S. as well from mountains to deserts and lowlands. Seems that we would be happy visiting anywhere as long as the right people were there and we had LostGirl's amenities!
Indeed her fantasy fund is a must:)
I'm there! The beach would be my place too, but I want a Pina Colada made with Bahamian Rum! We lived off of those when my husband took me to the Bahamas!
He was my boyfriend at the time, in passing, I mentioned I wanted to go, (he told my son, called my boss and set it up) so he surprised me one Christmas with a long drawn out lead in to the tickets, I got a toy airplane, a Barbie bikini, sunglasses, and finally the airline tickets! The day we were to leave, the storm of the century moved in, we went to the airport when they were closing highways, airports, and got stranded in an airport Marriott for days! We had to rebook the trip, and downgrade the hotel, but it was still nice enough, though we were drastically over dressed for it, but we had a great time!
I am so ready!
BTW, don't forget the nice trade wind!
I have a print in my dining room that everyone loves, I'll see if I can take a pic on my camera of it! That's where I want to go, I think it's Italy or Greece!
It's too dark, the colors are not coming out, need natural daylight!
Lost Girl, you surely have the right idea!
Great story SK! Sometimes getting stranded can make the best memories though! We would love to see the pic you have!
I need daylight, the colors are not coming out with the light in here, I'll try tomorrow!
Everyone wants that print!
Yes, he really is a great guy! He is so good with my mom, my son, and grand kids! The grand kids just pile up on him! LOL!
He is currently with our beloved neighbor, they went over to wild, wonderful West Virginia to the race track to play the slots! They're hoping to make a few bob too! He never spends too much and when he wins he always shares it with mom and I. You would fit right in with those two, would probably bring them some luck! ha! They have 'boy's day' every Saturday, take the trash to the dump, then go to lunch, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, and the outdoor flea market in search of tools...you know, guy stuff!
http://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/About/Photo%20Gallery
Oh at least, right after the rattle snake round up! You should be able to give them some pointers there, Croc!
I used to tend bar so we can whip up some great drinks SK. Maybe added to your pina colada a nice refreshing mojito is in order. Would love to see the print in your dining room! I am really enjoying this fantasy thread and the fact that everyone is sharing such nice places to visit! Maybe we could all meet at LostGirl's retreat she has the best amenities! ;)
Nothing better than mountains and waterfalls. The rush of water is so relaxing!
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The casino sure looks like fun SK!
Hubs goes once in a while, where I would rather shop with mine or spend it/give it to the grand kids!
They've tightened these machines up to the point that you can't win anything anymore, but he likes it and never spends too much!
Was planning to put up a picture of that print in my dining room. This is a new computer, my not too old one was so full of pop-ups it was unusable. So I download a microsoft recommended program to transfer the pics from my iphone, decline all of the add on garbage, and up come 5 pop-ups, so I hopefully uninstalled everything!
Wish there were downloads absolutely free of garbage that ruins your computer, even if there was a charge, I'd pay it!
Sorry, we'll just have to use the great pics you and lostgirl put up, they're magnificent!
I hate those pop-ups too SK. I couldn't get pictures to load without just putting htem on as attachments. So can you describe the picture in your living room that we can't see?