posted
For those who were looking at the summer camping thread, I had mentioned the possibility of hosting at my family's cabin in the catskill mountains. I was just there, poking my nose around... some details.
Yes, a hatrack gathering there would be feasible. The cabin can sleep three couples (the fold out couch is in a public area...) and there are 4 single beds, two of which are also in a public area. There is room for 2-3 tents on the property.
If water is working properly (and if we were to have this at teh cabin, I would head up both weekends prior to make sure things are in good shape), then 2-3 people could shower in the cabin, but we'd definetely have water for cleaning, cooking if we eat there, and minor stuff like that.
THere is a pool. I doubt we will open it next year, but that won't be determined til feburary. It has not been opened since 1999.
The cabin is within 1 hour drive of river tubing, mountain day hikes, great trout fishing, a game farm (with feeding of the baby animals. great for children aged 6-90, i've been there about 7 times, and loved feeding the baby goats every time), a water park, and a couple other attractions.
There are hotels in the vicinity, where those less rugged could rent rooms, and we could hold a room for those who need daily showers. There is also a camp ground a 3 minute drive from the base of the driveway to the cabin. They rent out a couple cabins, and tent spaces. Right on the Esopus river.
So... its feasible. I do not yet know if its practical for my family to host this. Please post if this would interest you. The cabin is 130 miles from NYC and 70 miles from Albany.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
I am certainly interested. What would it take to make this practical for your family? For instance, will there be considerable expense involved in getting the cabin ready? At KamaCon we all pitched in $10 towards the hospitality room and first night's pizza... if we're staying somewhere for a week, I think it would be perfectly reasonable for us all to send you 20 bucks via paypal in advance to help with expenses. So if the practicalities are ones that can be helped by throwing money at them, would that do it?
posted
Latish in the summer would be necessary for me, too, as I will be taking time off work for Dana & Bob's wedding and would like some space between vacations. Plus, it would be nice to spread the hatrack gatherings out a bit.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
The big concerns for my family aren't the expenses... we open the cabin up in late may or early june every year. If we were to do this, I would spend extra time getting the place in shape... dusting and cleaning and such, as well as making sure that the water system is in solid shape and the gas tank is full, etc.
Right now, the cabin is not being used very much... my brother and I are in line to inherit, but too financially insecure as of yet to take care of the cabin on a regular basis. My grandfather no longer can really take care of it, and since my grandmother died, my aunt and uncle don't enjoy being up there. So, basically, instead of being used 4 days out of every week during the summer, it is used 10 nights during the summer. It just means the place needs help...
So, in one sense, it would be great to do this. It would mean that the place is alive and kicking, and having people around would brighten it up.
In another sense, it will be very difficult for my family, possibly, because it HASN'T been used much since 1999.
The practicalities are that, I would probably need to open the pool, which means that me and my brother would need to be up there every weekend for at least 6 weeks. This is not an expense I could ask Hatrack to help defray, since opening the pool is liable to cost a lot of money. I need to discuss with my brother whether we will really do this, but he won't know until probably december, since this is his first year fully employed (Teaching 8th grade english). If we ARE going to host hatrack, and if he feels he can spend 6 weekends up there next summer, we will open the pool... depending on how much that costs, 20 dollars from everyone would be great, but not significant.
The other major hurdle is the water. We use a stream-fed resevoir to supply water to the house (when my grandfather dies, my brother and I are putting in a well... but he won't do that right now). If the resevoir system breaks down again during the winter, as it did last winter, when the nipple in the resevoir broke, it CAN take a while to fix. as I said, I would be up ther eboth weekends before the gathering in order to make sure the water is working.
Anyrate, I appreciate the concern, ELjay.
Right now, I want to see how much interest there is. If 20-30 hatrackers like this idea, I'll definetely keep on top of the situation, and try to work out with my brother if we can really do this. If we CAN really do it, then I'll make it definite around christmas break time, and we can start booking any camping/hotel space that is needed, as well as finding maps to nearby places and generally getting ready to have a ball.
This would probably happen between july 4th weekend, and mid august. I want to make sure we have a weekend AFTER the event to clean up, before school starts.
Elizabeth- This is 7 minutes from the pizza place
[ August 22, 2004, 08:28 AM: Message edited by: Paul Goldner ]
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
You feed the baby goats!?!?!?!? AWWWWWWW.... THAT'S FRIGGIN AWESOME!!! I LOVE GOATS! However seeing as how I'm a lowley college student and have no money and live in Texas... I can't gooooo.... as great as it sounds (Then again... i'm not sure if i was invited, anyway... i just REALLY like that song that was at the beginning of this post and this seemed like a PERFECT opportunity to post it.)
Posts: 529 | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
I won't pick the ornery con day, msquared My brother is teaching this year, so thats still during the school year for him. This event will be sometime between july 4th and the end of august.
If I get 15 hatrackers interested, other then myself, then I'll seriously discuss ability to do this, and post a "go" or "no go" before the middle of january, so that everyone has at least 6 months to plan.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I would love to go as well. I approve of gatherings that are within half a tank of gas. But my schedule is up in the air.
Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jan 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'd like to come, but I go back to school mid-August (which is why I didn't go to Kamacon). I also have a family reunion at some point. Once you get the date nailed down, then I can give you a more concrete answer.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
mike The Tick mike Papa Moose mike Happy Camper mike Melting Snowman mike saxon75
juliette Juliette Carl Mooselet Connie Squirrel Timothy Superstation Kara blackwolve
Allegra Allegra Annie Annie Hobbes Hobbes katie katharina AJ BannaOJ
<edited out of fear> celia Kama Kama Tom TomDavidson Christy Christy Stephen sndrake
Diane (I'm not sure.) Rivka rivka Robert Marek Josh Zevlag Andrea JennyGardener
Maribeth Mayday Bernard Insanity Plea Sophie (Has not yet registered) Eddie Frisco Nathan T_Smith
Jamie Mackillian Sara Rappin Ronnie Reagen Kara fiazko LJ ElJay Dana dkw
Bob Bob_Scopatz Noah CalvinMaker Richard Berg Richard Berg (I can't even separate the first name from the last name. It's like Jordan Catalano.) Tracy Farmgirl Amanda IvyGirl
Becky kwsni Ken Psychotriad Kara Ryuko Russel fugu Julie Theca
Dan lime Julie vana Um... JonnyNotSoBravo Karen xnera Karl telperion
Darren punwit Cheri punwit's wife Anna punwit daughter Nicole Space Opera
Please tell me I got everyone.
--
In case anyone can't tell, punwit and family left fifteen minutes after we got back from the museum. *pout* I know the list isn't perfect - pleae let me know what needs to be changed.
posted
Ok, there is enough interest for me to seriously look into this.
People coming up is an excuse to put the time and effort into openign the pool and keeping the place useable for the whole summer Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
I knew i should have changed the name on my email to Marek sooner. Oh well, JNSB's real first name is Jon, i had to write him a check for my share of the room, so I know his breal name.
Posts: 2332 | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
""In another sense, it will be very difficult for my family, possibly, because it HASN'T been used much since 1999. "
OK, how about this. We have people take turns (if they choose to) doing something to help the cabin. We scrape. We paint. We wash. We could take work details. I would love to do that. I will volunteer to help make the grounds look nice, poison ivy pulled up, etc.
As people said, don't worry about the pool, and don't do it if it will be a hardship, please!
M2 quipped: "Or are you planning on skipping out again next year for another aging rock band?"
Careful of making fun of people seeing aging rock bands. I happen to be an aging woman who follows around an aging rock band. Ha ha.
"(I can't even separate the first name from the last name. It's like Jordan Catalano.)"
So funny. Like Tony Soprano. James Bond. Marlon Brando.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Elizabeth- If people are willing to do that, we'd be extroadinarily grateful. Will discuss with others, and such. Pulling weeds, helping with dusting, planting new plants in the flower bed, clearing clutter, I could probably come up with a dozen minor tasks that hatrackers are capable of, and don't require great skill. That is a wonderful, kind, generous offer.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, it is easy to offer up other people's help! Ha ha.
You know, I bet you have quite a few skilled people in the group. It would be sort of like a Habitat for Goldnermanity. Or something.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wave]](graemlins/wave.gif)
very interested! (and wonders if maybe I could borrow my sister's RV for this road trip)![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
