I also enjoyed getting to know women from my guild better. At guild meetings things are busy and rushed so when I was able to attend a retreat I got to speak with members longer.
The first retreat I went to, none of my small sewing group were going but I had a lot of fun. At my second retreat my sister came down from Michigan. She doesn't quilt but she worked on flannel story boards for her library and I sewed and we had a really good time.
I know my current guild's retreat sold out the first week it was announced and there are 100 people attending. I hope to attend one year soon but right now I am a single parent to a teenager.
The other thing about a retreat is that I finish projects. I bring several and work on what I want, but when people are walking by and checking on your progress it is hard to just give up on something that is almost a complete top - for me it's a positive reinforcement...if my enthusiasm was flagging at home, I'd toss the project to the side and go watch tv.