fiction files redux discussion

. . .hi lovelies, sorry i've been distant . . .just crazy busy and not online a lot . . . not sure where we are on next years dork yet, but in case nothing has been decided, i'd like to throw out hosting at the cabin this year . . . it's really more of a lodge, i swear, and amazingly lovely and private . . . there's four rooms that sleep two each, there's the moho, and by summer i should be finished converting the game room, and we can sleep a few in there, too . . . plus there's tons room for camping on the property . . . also miles and miles of trails right out the back door . . .

. . . we would be thirty minutes from port townsend, fifteen minutes to the victoria ferry . . . seven minutes from the amazing dungeness spit, thirty minutes from hurricane ridge-- one of the hightlights of olympic national park . . .

. . . another advantage is that it wouldn't cost a cent . . . just throwing that out there in case we haven't found a place yet . . .

Elizabeth and I were JUST talking last night about the fact that you'd suggest the cabin next year.

I'm in.

. . . i'm fine with whatever the venue, i just thought this might take a little of the financial pressure off . . .

Hell yeah! Party at Johnny's!!

I'm in.

I really love this idea! But as the nervous Nelly, I feel obligated to say that it won't be enough space for us. Are there any nearby rental places that we could rent to supplement?

tons of b&bs nearby, including one that consists of old steam engine cars all dolled up . . . by the time we finish the game room, without anyone sleeping on a couch, we can sleep 12 with two to a room and the moho (there's a built-in RV site on the property, so there is bathroom, water and electric for the moho) . . . lauren and i and owen can tent camp, so can my nephews if they come. . . so can anyone else-- i can scare up tents and sleeping bags . . . it'll be august, and we're in the rain-shadow, so weather promises to be agreeable . . .i'd probably rent a honey bucket or two for the dudes, to go along with the cabin bathrooms and the moho bathroom . . . hope to have the hot tub and outdoor shower by then, too . . .

. . . we could rent a 12 passenger van, so we can take group day trips to olympic national park, port townsend, etc . . .

. . . the kitchen and the main room are perfect for big family meals and drunk bingo--i've got a table with six leaves that will seat 18 of us . . .

. . . all of that said, if seems like there's not enough room, i'm totally game to do it elsewhere . . . it's just that this place is free and setting wise perfect--totally atmospheric and private and magical in a lodgey way . . . also, we could always use it as a back-up if we can't find something else agreeable . . .

last year we had 14 (but not everyone was there at the same time) and the year before we had 16. i hope i'm counting right. i have a feeling this might be a bigger year (i hope!)

maybe it would work, if some folks are willing to sleep in sleeping bags or tents. in the rooms that sleep two, what sorts of beds are there? how many showers do you have? if we get over crowded at any point and need a little more space, what's the hotel situation in sequim?

Regardless of where it is I'm in. That being said I'm cool with having at your place JE.

. . . okay, let's keep looking, and we'l can call the cabin a back-up, this and any year . . .

well great. now i feel like a great big 'ole party pooper. again!

you don't think that your property plus something else nearby will work? i assume there isn't a great rental property adjoining your own?

. . . oh no, not at all, patty! . . . my one worry is the bathroom situation . . . mostly where showering is concerned . . . the master bathroom only has a bathtub . . . also, we could start the party at the cabin and move it to another locale after two days or something . . . i just wanna make sure everybody is comfortable, as most people shower more than me!

I'm with you Patty! I need my creature comforts like ample bathroom and shower space. I agree though that it would be nice if we could get something nearby that would accommodate and then we could still do all the partying at the Skipper's cabin.

That said, wherever we end up I am there. I love my Dorks! Going all year without seeing you guys is torture.

Jon really needs a dedicated shitter, just for our sake.

JE, if you send me the actual address of your place, I'll be happy to search for something nearby!

. . .695 toad road, sequim !

what do you think of this place? it only sleeps 10, but it looks like it's not too far away & if we combine the sleeping quarters with your place...?
http://www.greatrentals.com/rental-pr...

. . . that place looks great . . . looks like we'd have to go for the end of july, because august is booked solid . . .

Thanks Jenny for posting the nostalgic pictures on your Facebook - if you hadn't I wouldn't have known Dorka '12 was in the planning stages. I'm in, of course. Would like to stay in the supplementary accommodation as I too am not a happy camper and need my creature comforts. That place Patty found looks really lovely - I'm up for that big time.

...although, there's going to have to be a designated driver who abstains from alcohol consumption in order to ferry us from JE's back to the rented place every night... I'd offer but I can't drive...

. . . it looks like the place is only a couple of miles away . . . i do think we should rent a van for shuttling and day trip purposes . . .

End of July is good for me as the fall semester starts in mid August and we're usually required to show up a week prior for meetings and the convocation...

Can we lock in some days...? Usually we do last week of July and first week of August... any thoughts on keeping it or moving it?

As we need to get Deadpan Dan back with us this year, how about 21st/22nd to 28th/29th July?

August is out as that place Patty found is booked.

Yay! I'll get to celebrate my birthday again with all my Dorks!

Lara wrote: "As we need to get Deadpan Dan back with us this year, how about 21st/22nd to 28th/29th July?"

sounds good to me!

Man, this event is bigger than Christmas and New Year put together for me. I desperately need something to look forward to, so this planning has come at just the right time.

Bit of a bold question, but who's going to volunteer to be The Good American and manage the booking this year? I would offer but, a) my credit cards are maxed out right now and b) it's probably easier to organise from within the US anyway. We can all paypal our share to the co-ordinator straight away as in past years. Anyone?

I guess we need to first work out who wants to stay at JE's and who wants to stay elsewhere and take it from there. I'll set up an event thingy - makes it easier to monitor names and numbers than trawling through the thread (if you guys are okay with my doing that).

Oops, no, I can't set up an event as I don't have permission to.

I am happy to sleep in my tent while the tree house is under construction.

woot! thanks for the notice of the thread, lara :) i'm in! where and when i'll work out later. the july dates look great to me. can't wait to see you guys again!

ps. i'll have a rental for sure.

pps. congrat on the cabin, jon! can't wait to see your side of the mountain.

Upon closer inspection, the house I posted has only 2 bedrooms, with a total of 4 beds. I'm not sure how they figured that it sleeps 10. Do we still like the looks of that? There are a couple of other places in Sequim, but not nearly as close to JE's.

I will handle the booking.

I love you Patty Gates.

I guess it depends on how many people want to stay in other accommodation. So far there are 5 of us, so, yeah, maybe we need a different place:

Patty
Jean-Paul
Kerry
Jennie
Lara

Ben, you haven't stipulated which you prefer.

Hmm, well two bedrooms doesn't seem so great now does it. Maybe we should look at more options?

I could really go either way. I made it through Fort Flagler, so think I can handle JE's cabin, although I would definitely want to be in one of the rooms, not outside in the MOHO or in a tent. I can however bring a sleeping bag.

I think you can add our Deadpan Dan to that list Lara. I know he's coming this year.

Kerry wrote: "I think you can add our Deadpan Dan to that list Lara. I know he's coming this year. "

Yep, I know. I got the impression he was okay to stay at JE's though.

I'm game for the cabin, and have no problem tenting it. If Chris comes too, she'll want something nicer, but Chris and I will deal with that when the time comes as we can't plan on her presence this far out from the date.

Oh, and late July is always a tad better than early August for me.

Lara wrote: "Kerry wrote: "I think you can add our Deadpan Dan to that list Lara. I know he's coming this year. "

Yep, I know. I got the impression he was okay to stay at JE's though."

Oh I see Lara! You were only listing us that wanted the other location. I got confused and thought you were trying to list everyone who is coming.

Alan and I are in and each of us are thinking we will ideally spend some nights in the cabin and a few away. If other people are feeling the same way we can organize which nights.

Campfire...

Was looking up the airports. Is Seattle still the closest? I saw a couple small international airports but they have several hour layovers to hop over from Seattle.

seattle is still the best option . . .

Lara wrote: "Ben, you haven't stipulated which you prefer."

i don't really care, as long as there's a bed and a door. and actually, i can do without the bed as long as there's a door... :)

RE: airports

I imagine Seattle will be the best option 99% of the time, but if someone manages to get a better deal flying into Bellingham (it happens occasionally, particularly with Canadian flights) I live mere blocks away from the airport and would be happy to pick folk up.

Hey, did anyone see these places?

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacati...

and

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacati...

Oh wow, Dan, nice find! Patty, whaddya think??? Everyone else on the supplementary accommodation list, what do you guys think? I'm easy with whatever you choose, as long as there are several bathrooms and enough rooms so my snoring doesn't kill a dork's holiday!

They both look nice, but are both about $500/night during the time we will be there. Seems like it's above our price range, unless the rest of you disagree.

Suppose you're right about that. Got so excited I didn't do the math(s).

I agree that it seems a bit pricey for the supplemental location. If it was the main location and we guaranteed to fill it, then maybe.