This is the era of connection...across miles, countries, ideologies. No one need ever live in isolation. We can get to know each other as never before.  We're all family!

I envision an always open, "open house" atmosphere where people could drop in to do the things that feed their souls, from The Work of Byron Katie (self-inquiry, the process I facilitate), to meditation, yoga, tai chi, healthy food preparation, book studies, improv, NVC, 12 step meetings, etc. There could be scheduled classes as well - not with celebrity "experts" but with peer practitioners. All guests or residents would be involved in the maintenance of the retreat center: cooking, cleaning, gardening, childcare, elder care, making and keeping the environment beautiful. It would be open to all, regardless of income (requiring a large private or corporate endowment perhaps - Gaiam, are you listening?) And the center would be in a beautiful place, a temperate climate, ideally in the mountains or by a body of water, with abundant walking or hiking. We'd serve only organic food as available, and use environmentally friendly cleaning products.

My ideal retreat would be a microcosm of how we can live everywhere, all the time: in cooperation with nature and each other...in serenity...in a spirit of being a lifelong learner...and with healthy habits.