Well, I feel very privileged because I attend at least one a year. The one our guild puts on is at a retreat center, all organic food meals included, we pay $325 Cdn Fri. dinner until Sun. lunch. We have a room to sew, and a room to eat and all the bedrooms are in the same building, so we can wear our jammies or slippers or whatever. There is usually a project or two offered, but most of us bring our own projects to work on, there is always one vendor for the Sat. .... a great little woods area with paths to get out and have some fresh air.....and the best part...only about an hour from home :) Sometimes we have a FQ lottery, or a bingo, but just depends on which guild members volunteer to organize it.
My little group of 8 also does a 3 day retreat at one member's log cabin, accessible only by water.....so only hand projects......and we decide on menus and then we each choose what we're going to cook.
This past year, I was fortunate to also attend a retreat at a Spa Resort with hot springs..... a great spot, a little $$$$, but all food included & more projects than anyone could possibly work on in the given time.
Quilting is a wonderful hobby and I've met so many great friends through it. If you have a church camp near you, you could probably find even 5-6 people close enough to pay the cost & have a wonderful weekend. There are alot of fabulous retreats offered on the web, but most are beyond the means of young families......I gotta say.....this has to be another one of those "golden" moments we've always heard about that's supposed to come our way as we age :roll: