your ideal retreat
Imagine you're taking a vacation to some place purely for rest and rejuvenation. This isn't a sightseeing trip to NYC or Disneyworld. It's a trek to a friend's guesthouse or to a secluded bed-and-breakfast. Now what about that retreat would make it ideal for you? Let's have details. Food? Drink? Surroundings, both indoor and outdoor? Would you want a place to look out over a lake? Would you want to be in the woods? Would you want to watch movies? Listen to music? Would you to be by yourself the entire time or would you want interaction with your hosts? The more detail, the better.
posted by Jana at 9:14 AM
10 Comments:
fun. I would be at the ocean. All meals would be outdoors. There would be no wind...warm during the day, cooler at night. No make-up would be taken except lip-gloss. No computers, but T.V. would be available. I would want every current magazine that I read at my finger-tips. Also, every favorite book I had read in the past would be available, but I had not read any of them...does that make sense?? I would want my family with me and any friends that are comfortable with occasional silence. My toes would spend most of the time in the sand.
Mine would be close to MDM's.
I am on a beach, so that I can hear waves break 24/7. I can walk on the beach in the sunlight and moonlight. There will be no phone, tv, or computers. There would be Bibles, books, just my family and food. There would be a balcony overlooking the beautiful ocean. And there would be no schedule, no expectations, we would all just "be".
I would choose to sail in the carribean on a 150 ft sail boat. Allison and I would have our own cabin and we would spend the day sleeping, .... , reading (her), jumping off the rigging into the water (me), and scuba diving.
On the boat would be five friends (couples). In the back of the boat would be a very well staffed and safe section of the boat for all the kids. Each kid would have a nanny whose sole mission is to feed, protect, and play with the kids. And the kids would love it!
Of course we would hang out with the kids and do all kinds of fun stuff, but if we wanted to take a nap or have a long lunch we would do so guilt free. Of course as I type this I kind feel guilty, but if I could get over it then it would sure be great.
I would choose to have a computer (a MAC) with all my iTunes stuff on it and access to the internet just so we can look up all the BS facts I would be spouting off. That sounds fantastic especially when you add in the jet ski, ski boat, and chef.
So as you can see this is why it's a good thing I am not rich.
7 days off. No work, no church (which is work for me too).
Mountains. Lake. Cabin. Deck. Spring or Fall.
Books. Lots of them. A pad to write on. Lounge chair. Big screen TV and DVD player with the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions.
Soft bed. No alarm clock. My wife and daughter and a nanny to take care of my daughter.
Access to friends to talk about theology, movies, and why Batman could kick Superman's butt, but those friends would have to leave when I ask them to.
Steaks. Burgers. Hot dogs. Lots and lots of Diet Coke.
I'm likin' the comments! Keep 'em comin'. Anyone who replies will be welcome at our future guesthouse...with all the amenities of course.
Rolling hills or mountains with large trees, lots of woodland; secluded with running stream or small lake close by and in view. Fireplace and lots of books. And a nice, brown ale occasionaly.
Tony
Of course Tony chimes in with the ale.
I love a cabin the mountains (warm days, cool nights) near a stream (or maybe a lake). Comfy bed to sleep in (no alarm clocks)...books to read and maybe some music...a porch to swing on....I love how time stands still in a place like that.
It's raining outside as I write this and I've noticed the comments about what the weather would be like on our "ideal retreats". I'm in partial agreement with them, warm days (not too hot or humid), cool nights but I really enjoy rain. So if my ideal retreat would have one good day of rain. Thunder crashes to make me jump and smile and lightning to watch and marvel at. Rainy days are best for watching movies and making chocolate chip cookies. I love to grab an umbrella or just get wet and get out (when there's no obvious danger) & jump in puddles. These days are best shared with your kids and hubby, unfortunately mine (hubby, that is)is in FL today. Must have candles nearby for the inevitible(?) power outage, but that's fine because it adds to the ambience and coziness. But just one day of rain or else I get cabin fever. Great post Jana, I've enjoyed this!
I"m thinking a rustic cabin near the mountains and ocean. Ocean closer than mountains, but views of both; Situated on mass acreage with a lake on the property so we could go fishing. Our cabin would have just enough amenities to make it comfortable. No phone, no TV, but definitely wireless internet so I could blog and post photos. Secluded enough where we don't hear traffic or people, but close enough to a town so our chauffer could take us to a nice restaurant. Bugs wouldn't exist in this fantasy land of mine, so we could frolic in the outdoors without having to put on bug spray.
And of course we would want our pets there, but in my fantasy vacation our Beagle-mix would actually listen to us and our Border Collie-mix would miraculously turn into a lap-dog for the duration of the trip. (Why don't pets ever get to go on vacation? Don't their owners stress them out?)
Oh, and of course there would be an endless supply of cold beer for Steve and Gin and Tonic with extra lime for me. And hangovers would not exist either.
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