I have never been to a quilt retreat but would consider going since I live in Oklahoma.
I do have 1 little suggestion though and that is to make everyone turn off their cell phones and give everyone a phone number just for emergency calls.
Whenever my sister comes over to sew, her phone doesn't ring but she is constantly having to answer text messages from her family that are unneccessary. If they would leave her alone she might get some sewing done.