Retreat Guidelines

We make these recommendations because they work. After nearly eight years of doing this, talking to attendees, and using our own experience as a rule of thumb, we can guarantee that if you adopt these guidelines you will leave La Muse feeling very accomplished.

Your time here is a gift, but the gift comes daily in the attention you give to your work, not just the decision to be here.

• Five days a week, we have "Quiet Hours":
  
  9AM to 12 PM.
  1PM to 5:30 PM.
  10 PM to 7 AM.
• Quiet Hours means there will be no noise in the common areas, and respectful quiet in the rooms during these hours.
  
• Saturdays and Sundays are days off.
  
• Any collaborative work or discussions of projects are held quietly in private rooms, or in the dining area.
  
• Noise levels during social hours inside and outside the house must always be respectful of the peaceful natural environment and our neighbors.
  
• Attendees are here to create. What we provide is not heavy on service; we give you a beautiful, affordable space in which to get your work done.
  
• This is not a tourist visit. We would be happy to schedule readings one night a week; dinners one night a week; and outings in the region one day a week.
  
• All common areas must be cleared of personal items, including books and laptops and notebooks.
  
• Rooms are to be kept tidy.
  
• No food or drink in the rooms.
  
• No smoking in the house.
  
• Kitchens and dining areas must be cleaned after mealtimes.
  
• Anything that is damaged must be paid for.
  
• Retreat Stay: Three weeks, two weeks, or as agreed upon in the application process.
  
• Attendees who disrespect the mission of the house and the goals of other attendees will be encouraged to enjoy a vacation at our house and will be charged our tourist rate. (A tourist rate is approximately four times more than the retreat rate.)
  
• The management reserves the right to ask anyone to leave at any time.
  
• Attendees who leave early will not be refunded their money.
  
• The above are called guidelines and not rules for a reason. We are all adults; we all have our own process. We will not chain you to your desk for eight hours like an employer. But know that we make these recommendations because they work. After nearly eight years of doing this, talking to previous attendees – they suggested many of the above guidelines, and using our own experience as a rule of thumb, we can guarantee that if you come to La Muse you will leave here feeling very accomplished.
  
• Basically, our guidelines encourage respect for your own work, other attendees' work, our house, and our neighbors. The purpose of each guideline is to support a true retreat from life back home. We are as much a machine-free house as we can be so that you can clear your mental desktops to find peace and inspiration through discipline and solace. The point is to disconnect in order to connect.
  
• Keep in mind, too, as you read this website, that we offer all this information for the sake of convenience and clarity. La Muse is a unique concept, and we figure it is helpful for you to have information. You may feel a little like the blind leading the blind when you first arrive, but you will soon settle in and feel right at home.
  
  La Muse has hosted attendees of all ages, denominations and continents and hopes to see you soon.