Editing Acetarium Summer Retreat 2014

[[File:Stur_porch.jpg|thumb|350px|View from the porch at Sturdivant Island.]]

The Acetarium Summer Retreat 2014
was the [http://acetarium.com Acetarium's] 2014 end-of-summer retreat.

'''The event is over!  However, this document will remain online for archival purposes.'''

'''Location'''
We've rented part of an island off [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falmouth,_Maine|Falmouth, Maine]. Near Portland, (accessible by Amtrak), Falmouth is the native home of the Abenaki tribe, and the port of launch for Sturdivant Island. See: [http://www.onthewaterinmaine.com/vacation-rental-home.asp?PageDataID=28477] for more information on our little bit of island.

'''Dates:''' September 4 - September 8.

==Description==

This trip is designed to offer a last escape and farewell to summer. It will be a time for friends to gather together and enjoy the natural beauty of Maine, sleep-in, explore, and maybe work on some projects. 

==Cost==

$30 per night, per person. Total length of trip is 4 nights.

Payment can be made via:

* Bitcoin?
* Cash
* Personal check made out to Alexander Ose

Refunds will be issued if something bad happens and we can't go.

==Budget==

In the interest of transparency, we will keep this section up-to-date with all budgetary decisions.

The total cost of the rental is $2,043 (this number includes taxes and fees).  

The per-person total of $30 per night is based on an average occupancy of 16.  We fully expect more than 16 people.  Therefore, there will likely be a budget surplus which will be applied to group costs like food, drink, and any previously unforseen expenditures.

==Activities==

Art projects!

Board games!

Swimming!

Heated discussions about gender politics!

Toki Pona learning and debate club

Drinking!!

Talks!
Friday night around the fire we'll be doing some slide free lightning talks. Please add your name and topic here, if applicable.
* tchell / ecology of rocky shores
* Alex / Koalas

Music!/Singalongs!

Dramatic readings of some sort?

==Useful Information==

[[File:Stur_map.jpg]]

* There is no internet on Sturdivant. According to the owners, there is 4G mobile access. T-Mobile's coverage maps assures readers the entire island should have 4G access and the tip where the cottages are should be covered with the highest power coverage.
* There is no television, however the internet assures us it is unnecessary.
* There is a beach, a grill, a firepit, and a lobster cooker.
* The cottage is run by solar panels and a back up generator.
* The water is "brackish," and drinking it unfiltered is not recommended.
* Check-In: 4:00pm
* Check-Out: 10:00am

Much more information can be found on the official [http://www.onthewaterinmaine.com/vacation-rental-home.asp?PageDataID=28477 rental page].

== Getting To and From ==

Should you need to get on or off the island at any point, we will make that happen.  Either Alex or any of the other experienced sea captains will ferry you between Handy Boat marina in Falmouth, ME, and Sturdivant Island whenever you you need.  

That being said:

'''We need everyone to sub-assemble their travel groups as much as possible'''.  Not only will this will reduce costs all around, but it will reduce the amount of trips between the marina and the island.  So, please reach out to the rest of the group to find travel buddies!

DRIVING

If you're driving a car, you'll want to make parking reservations ahead of time with Handy Boat marina (207-781-5110).  It's $10/day.

Once you're there, give one of us a call and we'll pick you up in the boat.

TRAINING (OR BUSING)

There are five trains a day from Boston North Station to Portland.  Tickets are either $20 or $25.  If you're leaving Thursday, my advice is to take the 5:00pm train, and share a taxi to Falmouth.  Taxi fare is estimated to be around $25.

Another option is to bring your bike on the train ($5, reservations required), and complete the short ride between Portland and Falmouth.

Once you're there, give one of us a call and we'll pick you up in the boat.

WATER TAXI

It is possible to take a [http://www.cbwatertaxi.com/rates.php|water taxi] from Portland directly to Sturdivant island, but it's expensive at $85.  Still, with six people, it might be worth considering!

== Travel Groups ==

'''Group 1: Man with the van:'''

Alex will be renting an eight-seater [http://littlefun.org/uploads/5240a2c4e691b266997d9275_736.jpg van] and driving to the island.  For anyone thinking of biking or taking the train, this would be a good way to get your supplies to the island!

: The van will be departing '''[https://www.google.com/maps/place/140+Elm+St,+North+Cambridge,+MA+02140/@42.3909639,-71.118861,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e3773d327616a3:0x5432011906c9f2d2| 140 Elm Street]''' on '''Thursday September 4th, at 3:00pm'''
:'''Kickin' in the front seat:''' Alex, Maluhia
:'''Sittin' in the back seat:''' Sarah, Laura, Joannah!, Shauna, Molly, Mitchell

: The van will be departing '''Falmouth, Maine''' on '''Monday September 8th, at 8:00am'''
:'''Which seat should I take:''' Alex, Maluhia, Noah, Molly, Shauna

: (This schedule is carefully designed for slackers who want to only take one day off from work!)

A van donation of $15 each direction would be appreciated, but not required.

----

''' Group 2: Late arrivers / Early departers:

Sarah will be taxi-ing back to Portland to catch the 6:50pm Boston Amtrak on Sunday evening and will need to leave the island at whatever time is appropriate and/or possible for that. '''

Joannah will be leaving on the Saturday 6:50 pm train back to Boston.  She is happy to coordinate travel to Portland with any others leaving that day.  She's also actually totally excited about exploring Portland that day, so if anyone is interested in coordinating an expedition perhaps mid-day or in the afternoon sometime, let's do it.  
----

''' Group 3: '''

==Attendees==

Please let us know if you want to come as soon as you can. Confirmed means you are definitely coming. Pending means you are planning on coming, but are uncertain. Tentative means you would like to come, but cannot commit at this time.

{| border="1"
!  Name  !! IRC/Nickname !! Arriving !! Departing !! Status !! Paid (Confirmed)
|-
| [[User:Alex Ose|Alexander Ose]] || maalox ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Maluhia || maluhia ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| [[mollydb]] || mollydb ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Laura || Laura ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $90
|-
| Micah Schwartz || Micah ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $90
|-
| [[Noah]] || swartzcr || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Shauna || shauna || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Sarah || sarahg || 9/04 || 9/07 || paid || $90
|-
| Jordan || || 9/05 || 9/07 || needs refund || -$90
|-
| Avi || fiendish || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Kit || || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Daf || daf || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Carolyn || carolyn || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Mitchell || tchell || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Joannah || n/a || 9/04 || 9/06 || paid || $60
|-
| Jeffrey Warlock || jywarren || 9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Colin || n/a || 9/05 || 9/07 || paid || $60
|-
| Bethany ||paxxa ||  9/04 || 9/08 || paid || $120
|-
| Kep ||inquiryqueue ||  9/04 || 9/08 || confirmed
|-
| Ethan || "hey you" || 9/05 || 9/07 || confirmed
|-
| Liz || || 9/06 || 9/08 || confirmed
|-
| Kiwako || || 9/06 || 9/07 || confirmed
|}

Totals:  17 paid, 4 confirmed but awaiting payment. $1830 paid so far.



(Edit this section to add your name!)

==Rooms==

[[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sturdivant+Island/@43.7414694,-70.1814372,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x4cb283a636814561:0xf898382668134f4d|Google Maps Map!]]

* '''Main Cottage 1st Floor''': Queen bedroom, bedroom with bunk bed
* '''Main Cottage Open Lofts''': There are two lofts, containing a total of three queen sized futons accessible by ladders. 
* '''Small Cottage''': Two-twin beds, can be combined into a king size.
* '''Water Tower''': one queen futon, one king mattress 
* '''Billiard Building''': loft with futon
* '''Bali House''': basically a lean-to with a queen sized bed (dibs!)

There is also space for tents.

== Occupancy ==

{| border="1"
! !! 9/04 !! 9/05 !! 9/06 !! 9/07
|-
| Main Cottage Queen Bed || '''Sarah''' || '''Sarah''' || '''Sarah''' ||
|-
| Main Cottage Queen Bed ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
| Main Cottage Bunk Bed || || ||  || 
|-
| Main Cottage Bunk Bed || '''Joannah''' || '''Joannah''' || ||
|-
| Loft Futon #1 || '''Avi''' || '''Avi''' || '''Avi''' || '''Avi'''
|-
| Loft Futon #1 || '''Kitchen''' || '''Kitchen''' || '''Kitchen''' || '''Kitchen'''
|-
| Loft Futon #2 || '''Shauna''' || '''Shauna''' || '''Shauna''' || '''Shauna'''
|-
| Loft Futon #2 || || || ||
|-
| Loft Futon #3 ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
| Loft Futon #3 || || || ||
|-
| Small Cottage ||'''Noah''' ||'''Noah''' ||'''Noah''' ||'''Noah'''
|-
| Small Cottage ||'''Bethany''' ||'''Bethany''' ||'''Bethany''' ||'''Bethany'''
|-
| Water Tower Queen Bed || '''Laura''' || '''Laura''' || '''Laura''' || 
|-
| Water Tower Queen Bed || '''Micah'''|| '''Micah''' || '''Micah''' || 
|-
| Water Tower King Bed || '''Maluhia''' || '''Maluhia''' || '''Maluhia''' || '''Maluhia''' 
|-
| Water Tower King Bed || '''Alex''' || '''Alex''' || '''Alex''' || '''Alex''' 
|-
| Billiard Building || '''Daf''' || '''Daf''' || '''Daf''' || '''Daf'''
|-
| Billiard Building || '''Carolyn''' || '''Carolyn''' || '''Carolyn''' || '''Carolyn'''
|-
| Bali House || '''mollydb''' || '''mollydb''' || '''mollydb''' || '''mollydb''' 
|-
| Bali House || || || || 
|}

Paid attendees listed in '''bold'''.  

(Swapping spaces is encouraged.  Feel free to "sleep around"!)

== Food & Drink ==

Dinners will be pre-planned and semi-organized!  If you're a good cook, this is your chance to shine.  Each night, somebody will be in charge of making a meal.  This person, along with selected assistants, will be responsible for all planning, buying, and execution. 

{| border="1"
! Date !! Chef de cuisine !! Under chef of the kitchen !! Roundsman
|-
| 9/04 || Maluhia (enchiladas, rice, salad, fun) || Alex (tequila) ||
|-
| 9/05 || Laura/Micah (cous cous, hummus, pita)|| Joannah (Pita, grapes)||
|-
| 9/06 || Noah/Bethany (Quinoa, Tomato/coconut/peanut soup, something green)|| ||
|-
| 9/07 || || ||
|}

Plan ahead!  There are no grocery stores on the island.  We will have to bring everything with us. Some general consumables will be a group acquisition.

There is a "small" refrigerator and two large coolers for food storage.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacking will be ad hoc, although we welcome any group contributions:

{| border="1"
! Breakfast !! Volunteer !! Contributor !! Philanthropist
|-
| Eggs || Joannah (1 dozen) || Maluhia (2 dozen) ||
|-
| Oatmeal || Joannah (Big ol' bag)|| Maluhia (1 lb) ||
|-
| Bread || mollydb (some) || ||
|-
| Fruit || || Joannah ||| 
|-
| Fixins || Alex (baking essentials, syrup) || Joannah (Raisins, Chopped Almonds, Cinnamon) ||
|}

The rental contract prohibits the possession and use of recreational drugs, however alcohol is acceptable.

The general rule is BYOABWETS (bring your own bottle with enough to share)!  This general philosophy applies to all matters of food, drink, and entertainment.

Open grocery requests:

* Bread
* Cheese
* Peanut butter
* Jelly
* Vegetables
* Tea
* Coffee (pre-ground)
* Tonic
* Limes
* Beer
* Rice/almond milk
* Cow milk
* soy-free things to roast on a fire
* Fruits
* Potatoes
* Tin Foil
* Oranges and vegan cake mix for [http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/campfire-cakes/9d67735f-e126-4435-9147-89568535ac3a orange cakes]
*Pickled vegetables (for bloody marys - I couldn't find any at Star Market today...)
* Some-more S'more fixins
* coconut milk

Closed grocery requests:

* S'MORES (2 bags of marshmellows, 2 large chocolate bars, 2 boxes of graham crackers) (Laura) and s'more always welcome by others!
* GIN (Alex)
* Vodka - only if Malu will make bloody marys (Laura)
* More Vodka - as requested I am making bloody marts <s>at some point</s> Saturday morning (Maluhia)
* Maluhia's bloody mary mix supplies (Maluhia)
* Cold brewed coffee (Alex)
* Banana Bread and Blueberry Bread (Laura)
* A loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a container of jelly (Laura)
* 2 loaves of bread, a big jar of peanut butter, jar of jelly (Maluhia)
* POTATOES - 5lbs (Maluhia)
* Wine - 2 boxes (Maluhia)
* 2 medium sized bags of cape cod chips (Laura)
* 2 dz eggs (Maluhia)
* 1 lb oatmeal (Maluhia)
* 1/2 gal cow milk (Maluhia)
* Tetley's Black Tea (Joannah) 
* 1 dz eggs (Joannah)
* Bunch of Bananas (Joannah)
* 5 Apples! (Joannah)
* Quaker Oatmeal Tub (Joannah)
* Raisins, Chopped Almonds, Cinnamon (Joannah) 
* 30 rack o' beer (Micah)
* Celery (for bloody Mary's) (Laura) 
* salad greens (mollydb)
* carrots (mollydb)
* coconut oil (mollydb)
* corn chips (mollydb)
* mani (the acetarium)




(Add what you're bringing to the above list)

== Packing List ==

The following is a non-exhaustive list of things you should bring:

* Water ([http://www.ready.gov/water|1 gallon, per person, per day].)
* Ice
* Snacks
* Cozy clothes (it might get cold)
* Towels
* Hygiene products
* Flashlights or headlamps
* Swimming apparel (Vibrams work really well for rocky beaches)
* Sunscreen
* Bug spray
* Books
* Art supplies
* Camera
* Instruments, anyone?
* (Add to this list!)

Linens '''are''' provided, but that shouldn't keep you from bringing a sleeping bag if you want to sleep outside