I wish you were, too, Susan! But I do leave the states, so maybe at some point I will head your way, or maybe you'll get here to see the redwoods when things are less insane in these parts!! Sending you huge hugs in the meantime <3
I know, you are extremely far away, but also, your side of the globe is on my must-experience list! So let's not put an in-person hug outside the realm of possibility <3
I love sharing my part of the world. Tourists come here to swim with marine megafauna but fail to absorb how truly ancient this land is. I know you'll understand it.
Everyone googles the Ningaloo Reef, but search for images of Yardie Creek, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Shothole Canyon and Charles Knife Canyon. You'll see what I mean.
I ADORE Elissa, and if I was not going to be at the wedding of a close friend of mine I would have tried to meet her in Truro! I had already booked these dates at Mount Madonna Center when I saw her dates at Esalen 😩
One of these fine days I will make it to one of her retreats as well. I was lucky enough to catch her at a reading for Permission in Los Angeles, and she is a gem. Brilliant and wonderful, as you’d expect. I got a hug, however, that was not enough ☺️☺️
And yes, if you are looking for somewhere to explore what might be stopping you from writing about certain experiences, that is definitely a topic we’ll be diving into. If you have any questions, of course feel free to message me❤️
Oh man! My wife and I just planned a trip to Palm Desert for that weekend! Otherwise, I’d sign up for sure. I’m in the Bay Area, so if you host something another time, I’m there.
I’ve been thinking about getting an open mic night or something together. What area in NorCal are you? Maybe we could put something together, together!
Hey Charlie! I'm actually in SoCal, it's my son who's in NorCal, so I head up that way to visit a lot. Definitely let me know if you get an open mic night together and maybe the timing will work out so I can come and cheer! :)
Una excelente idea, me encantaría, pero vivo muy lejos (en España) y aún que he viajado en dos ocasiones al west de EEUU, actualmente no me es posible. Es muy buena idea y os deseo lo mejor a todos.
It’s going to be fantastic, Sharon. I don’t know where you are or if it’s in the cards this time, but I would love to meet you 🥹 And if not this time, it won’t be the last time I do this! Xo
Ally, our dear Wendy (Out for a Walk) wanted to be sure I saw this, and wow -- introversion aside, I can't think of a retreat that would be any more fulfilling than the one you're proposing here. With a trip to meet up with my siblings a month before, and a trip to Panama to meet up with my children and their partners in early 2027, the travel budget (both time and dollars) can't really take on more right now. Dammit!
I feel so fortunate to have people I love who live nearby, folks I can be in community with on a regular basis, who lift me up so I can see beyond my own perspectives. I also have dear friends who, like me, homeschooled their kids, moms I've been connected with, virtually, for 20-some years. Substack is a whole new community, one that doesn't fully entwine with either of the other two, though there are overlaps. And it is a huge source of support, wisdom, and joy for me.
Whoever comes together for this, whatever shape it takes, thank you, Ally, for being brave and true enough to envision it. Part of me will be there no matter what.
Oh, how exciting! Are you joining a friend or would you like to share with me? Feel free to reply via email as I'm just rereading yours and replying right now.
Deborah!! I’m so excited and I hope you can come!! I keep telling myself not to get excited until people know for sure and then I’m like, well, that’s not working, so I guess I’ll just get excited lol
I do! The closest would be SJC (San Jose Mineta International), it's about 28 miles north of Santa Cruz, so about a 40-minute drive give or take, but you will likely find a wider selection of flights if you fly into SFO (San Francisco International Airport) and that's about 1.5 hours, really not bad, I have flown into both airports and driven to SC, and neither are a big deal, just try to avoid landing at rush hour, which you'd want to do anyway so you can arrive in time for dinner! Let me know if I can help with anything, this is so exciting :)
Totally understand on all counts! I think most of us writers are introverts who can sometimes manage in an extroverted world, or extroverts who need a lot of alone time. I am definitely the former, but I LOVE people. I especially love writers and artists and people who feel things deeply, and may not always feel comfortable in a crowd, because I am naturally that way.
My desire to make sure everyone is comfortable, and feeling safe, seen, and understood, overrides my own stuff when I lead these, so it’s one area where my codependency works out well for everyone 🤣😳
Kidding. Mostly.
Anyway, it will work out when it’s meant to work out! We will carry you in our hearts this time. Hope your other trips are fantastic, and I’ll see you in the comments section until I see you in person ☺️❤️
My heart stopped reading this. Omg yes. I tentatively have a CA trip planned with my mother, sisters, daughter and nieces but let me see if I can nudge dates around 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Oh my gosh! Well, I will try not to get too excited yet, but I’ll basically fail at that so, I’ll just go ahead and hope it works out! I’d love to see you there!! 🙏🏼☺️❤️✨
I’m so bummed….already promised a dear friend that I would support him while he is presenting at a conference on 10/17…..please do this again! I would join you in the redwoods immediately!!!!
I promise I will do it again! My hope is this is so fantastic we want to make this an annual thing at Mount Madonna Center, and maybe we do a second international retreat somewhere 🫢 But you know, one thing at a time. We’ll see how this one goes and how everyone feels and go from there! I promise this won’t be the last time, though ❤️
Michelle, some way or another I’m meeting you in person if I have to come and knock on your door. That sounds scarier than it should lol. But I’m just very sure we’re going to meet at some point when the stars align ☺️✨❤️
I would love that so much, tooooooo!! You are another one of those people I just feel like I’m going to meet at some point. Maybe that sounds strange but there are some people where I’m like, oh, that’s definitely happening. So yay.
And yes! One of the things I love about this place is they actually have some affordable options as retreat centers go. (Which does not mean this is doable or affordable for everyone, and I am well aware of that, and I wish I could pull up to everyone’s town so much. But I love the fact that you can camp at this place, or pull your RV up if you have one. I have been looking for this kind of place in CA for a long time. Most of them are so out of reach for anyone who is in any kind of normal tax bracket. So, yeah. I appreciate that a lot!) Huge hugs, Reagan❤️
I will do it again, I promise! Maybe I’ll head back to Kripalu at some point, I’ve led a couple of workshops there, and that’s always fun. Or maybe Wendy, Kate and I will show up in an RV in your driveway. Anything could happen. My daughter is heading to college this time next year, and I have no idea what I’m going to do. Things could get crazy, Katrina. Don’t despair.
This sounds divine. I won't be able to do it this year as I'll have recently completed an inter-state relocation (back to New Mexico, yay!!) But I will start saving in anticipation of another. :)
OMG I wish I was in America I want to go to the Redwoods!
I wish you were, too, Susan! But I do leave the states, so maybe at some point I will head your way, or maybe you'll get here to see the redwoods when things are less insane in these parts!! Sending you huge hugs in the meantime <3
I didn't expect to hear from you, what a delight Ally!
Thank you & I'm in Australia please come over 😀 & enjoy the redwoods I'm thinking of you love Susan
Yes! I am determined to get to Australia, so you can count on it!
Oh Goodie!!
Sounds amazing and probably much needed, but I will have to join you in spirit, sadly.
I know, you are extremely far away, but also, your side of the globe is on my must-experience list! So let's not put an in-person hug outside the realm of possibility <3
That would be amazing!
I love sharing my part of the world. Tourists come here to swim with marine megafauna but fail to absorb how truly ancient this land is. I know you'll understand it.
In the meantime, virtual hugs to you <3
I would love that so much 🥹
We can hope.
Everyone googles the Ningaloo Reef, but search for images of Yardie Creek, Mandu Mandu Gorge, Shothole Canyon and Charles Knife Canyon. You'll see what I mean.
😳😮 just did. We must make this a reality!!
It's a pretty cool backyard, huh?
Ally!!!! This sounds amazing! Gahhhhh!
Try to come!!! I would love that so much ❤️❤️❤️
It would be so lovely! I will see what I can do.
Fingers and everything else, crossed! Except that isn’t any fun, so just metaphorically, everything is crossed! Lol
I live in Santa Cruz CA. This is a lovely retreat center. ❤️
Oh my gosh! Isn’t it stunning?! I’m up your way a LOT! My son is in school in NorCal ❤️
Who knows what may unfold ❤️
From another favorite writer,Elissa Altman:
"to peel the onion and do a deep dive into the issues surrounding why we allow ourselves the space to tell some stories, but not others."
This retreat sounds like a serene place to do that.
I ADORE Elissa, and if I was not going to be at the wedding of a close friend of mine I would have tried to meet her in Truro! I had already booked these dates at Mount Madonna Center when I saw her dates at Esalen 😩
One of these fine days I will make it to one of her retreats as well. I was lucky enough to catch her at a reading for Permission in Los Angeles, and she is a gem. Brilliant and wonderful, as you’d expect. I got a hug, however, that was not enough ☺️☺️
And yes, if you are looking for somewhere to explore what might be stopping you from writing about certain experiences, that is definitely a topic we’ll be diving into. If you have any questions, of course feel free to message me❤️
Surrounding you with love ❤️
Oh man! My wife and I just planned a trip to Palm Desert for that weekend! Otherwise, I’d sign up for sure. I’m in the Bay Area, so if you host something another time, I’m there.
I’ve been thinking about getting an open mic night or something together. What area in NorCal are you? Maybe we could put something together, together!
Hey Charlie! I'm actually in SoCal, it's my son who's in NorCal, so I head up that way to visit a lot. Definitely let me know if you get an open mic night together and maybe the timing will work out so I can come and cheer! :)
I certainly will! Enjoy the retreat.
Una excelente idea, me encantaría, pero vivo muy lejos (en España) y aún que he viajado en dos ocasiones al west de EEUU, actualmente no me es posible. Es muy buena idea y os deseo lo mejor a todos.
This will not be the last time! And I haven’t been to Spain and it’s on my list, so who knows what might happen? ☺️
What a pity I live thousands of mikes away!!
I wish you could come, but it won’t be the last time! Where do you live? (roughly, of course!)
Ideally we will take this show on the road, too ☺️
South Africa!
I mean, all these places I want to go! This is not what I would call a problem 🤣☺️
This looks amazing!!!
It’s going to be fantastic, Sharon. I don’t know where you are or if it’s in the cards this time, but I would love to meet you 🥹 And if not this time, it won’t be the last time I do this! Xo
It IS going to be fantastic. If I can be there, I will.
Everything crossed! ☺️🥰🙏🏼
Ally, our dear Wendy (Out for a Walk) wanted to be sure I saw this, and wow -- introversion aside, I can't think of a retreat that would be any more fulfilling than the one you're proposing here. With a trip to meet up with my siblings a month before, and a trip to Panama to meet up with my children and their partners in early 2027, the travel budget (both time and dollars) can't really take on more right now. Dammit!
I feel so fortunate to have people I love who live nearby, folks I can be in community with on a regular basis, who lift me up so I can see beyond my own perspectives. I also have dear friends who, like me, homeschooled their kids, moms I've been connected with, virtually, for 20-some years. Substack is a whole new community, one that doesn't fully entwine with either of the other two, though there are overlaps. And it is a huge source of support, wisdom, and joy for me.
Whoever comes together for this, whatever shape it takes, thank you, Ally, for being brave and true enough to envision it. Part of me will be there no matter what.
I will carry your spirit around with me, but will wish for the huggable part, too.
Ally and Wendy, I snuck a peek at my emails just now and saw this post, so of course I had to check it out!
This sounds amazing Ally! I need to check dates and flights but oh my, this is just what I need right now.
Wendy are you going to be there?
Deb! I am! Already registered…
Oh, how exciting! Are you joining a friend or would you like to share with me? Feel free to reply via email as I'm just rereading yours and replying right now.
Ok. We’ll talk soon! ❤️
Deborah!! I’m so excited and I hope you can come!! I keep telling myself not to get excited until people know for sure and then I’m like, well, that’s not working, so I guess I’ll just get excited lol
Yes, this is so exciting to consider for us too! I hope to join you. As I would need to fly in from Iowa, do you know which airport is closest to you?
I do! The closest would be SJC (San Jose Mineta International), it's about 28 miles north of Santa Cruz, so about a 40-minute drive give or take, but you will likely find a wider selection of flights if you fly into SFO (San Francisco International Airport) and that's about 1.5 hours, really not bad, I have flown into both airports and driven to SC, and neither are a big deal, just try to avoid landing at rush hour, which you'd want to do anyway so you can arrive in time for dinner! Let me know if I can help with anything, this is so exciting :)
Thank you! 💚
Totally understand on all counts! I think most of us writers are introverts who can sometimes manage in an extroverted world, or extroverts who need a lot of alone time. I am definitely the former, but I LOVE people. I especially love writers and artists and people who feel things deeply, and may not always feel comfortable in a crowd, because I am naturally that way.
My desire to make sure everyone is comfortable, and feeling safe, seen, and understood, overrides my own stuff when I lead these, so it’s one area where my codependency works out well for everyone 🤣😳
Kidding. Mostly.
Anyway, it will work out when it’s meant to work out! We will carry you in our hearts this time. Hope your other trips are fantastic, and I’ll see you in the comments section until I see you in person ☺️❤️
My heart stopped reading this. Omg yes. I tentatively have a CA trip planned with my mother, sisters, daughter and nieces but let me see if I can nudge dates around 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
Oh my gosh! Well, I will try not to get too excited yet, but I’ll basically fail at that so, I’ll just go ahead and hope it works out! I’d love to see you there!! 🙏🏼☺️❤️✨
I’m going to aim that way. I’ll know more in a few days
I’m so bummed….already promised a dear friend that I would support him while he is presenting at a conference on 10/17…..please do this again! I would join you in the redwoods immediately!!!!
I promise I will do it again! My hope is this is so fantastic we want to make this an annual thing at Mount Madonna Center, and maybe we do a second international retreat somewhere 🫢 But you know, one thing at a time. We’ll see how this one goes and how everyone feels and go from there! I promise this won’t be the last time, though ❤️
If only!
Michelle, some way or another I’m meeting you in person if I have to come and knock on your door. That sounds scarier than it should lol. But I’m just very sure we’re going to meet at some point when the stars align ☺️✨❤️
That would be awesome!
I would love to meet you and hang out at a retreat— that weekend I can’t do but would be up for it in future! Cost is doable too!
I would love that so much, tooooooo!! You are another one of those people I just feel like I’m going to meet at some point. Maybe that sounds strange but there are some people where I’m like, oh, that’s definitely happening. So yay.
And yes! One of the things I love about this place is they actually have some affordable options as retreat centers go. (Which does not mean this is doable or affordable for everyone, and I am well aware of that, and I wish I could pull up to everyone’s town so much. But I love the fact that you can camp at this place, or pull your RV up if you have one. I have been looking for this kind of place in CA for a long time. Most of them are so out of reach for anyone who is in any kind of normal tax bracket. So, yeah. I appreciate that a lot!) Huge hugs, Reagan❤️
I feel the same way, it doesn’t sound strange in the least
I would love this more than life, but it's just not financially feasible for me right now. I will have to live vicariously through everyone else. XO
Wish you could be there!
Me, too! Especially if you will be there as well.
I will be. Already registered.
That makes me super happy for you… and super sad for me.
Awww, friend. Me, too. I’d so love it if you could be there.
I will do it again, I promise! Maybe I’ll head back to Kripalu at some point, I’ve led a couple of workshops there, and that’s always fun. Or maybe Wendy, Kate and I will show up in an RV in your driveway. Anything could happen. My daughter is heading to college this time next year, and I have no idea what I’m going to do. Things could get crazy, Katrina. Don’t despair.
I am so onboard for this road trip.
This sounds divine. I won't be able to do it this year as I'll have recently completed an inter-state relocation (back to New Mexico, yay!!) But I will start saving in anticipation of another. :)
Amazing! And uh, New Mexico would not be a bad place for a retreat, either! Just saying!
😊 it’s my heart & soul place. There are lots of places around Santa Fe, the Jemez mountains, and Taos that would be amazing!