Our Inaugural WPF Lengthy Weekend Occasion

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We’d say new friendships too, however these friendships already existed – they only bought even higher in individual. The WPF Lengthy Weekend Retreat was open to our Insiders neighborhood solely, so everybody who attended the occasion knew one another upfront of exhibiting up in individual.

Have you ever ever met a brand new good friend the place you simply clicked? That the awkward get to know you section wasn’t a section? This occasion was precisely that. Most of us hadn’t met in individual earlier than, however all of us knew one another sufficient that we had been in a position to get proper previous the introductions and proper into the deep, vital stuff. We’re a neighborhood of girls and nonbinary people who got here collectively concerning the cash stuff and caught collectively due to the entire life stuff.

The Lengthy Weekend

The occasion itself was over 4 days and three nights, and everybody lingered till the final second on Sunday morning as a result of nobody was prepared for it to finish. We even had a pair members point out that they anticipated to wish extra Introvert time, nevertheless it wasn’t wanted, as a result of they had been with their individuals.

Thursday night time, all of us filtered into the large beautiful home in Phoenix, after which spent the night after dinner speaking collectively exterior within the cool night time air. Even with tiredness and jet lag, nobody wished to go to mattress early, and we stayed up late underneath the celebrities.  

Friday and Saturday each had roundtable chats for the morning – speaking about FIRE, elder care, journey hacking, and extra, break up up in teams of 3-5. Our aim was to have a stability between a relaxed good friend hang around and a bit little bit of construction, which labored out completely. We had extra unfastened group chats within the afternoons, however we stored getting facet tracked with new discussions in the perfect method. From the very starting, there was a deep belief and understanding, so we talked about some heavy matters, in between plenty of laughter.

Considered one of our attendees was none apart from Lauren, the creator behind the retirement calculator cFIREsim, and we spent two hours on Saturday afternoon sitting round collectively going by means of the small print of the calculator. It was throughout this time that our WPF cofounder, Regina, lastly accepted that she was formally FIRE (financially impartial, retired early). The numbers don’t lie, and the encouragement of 14 different girls helped her settle for that was actually the reality. Plus, when you’ve got the creator of the calculator within the room with you…. You realize the numbers are plugged in proper.

Organizing an In Individual Occasion Throughout a Pandemic

Since this occasion occurred in 2022 whereas the COVID Pandemic continues to rage on (even when too many individuals are pretending prefer it’s over), we wished to incorporate a brief observe right here about having a bunch retreat throughout a pandemic.

The WPF Lengthy Weekend was initially deliberate for January nevertheless it bought moved to Could due to the Omicron wave. When the occasion was lastly right here, we knew we nonetheless wanted to be extremely cautious to make sure a secure occasion.

Each attendee was required to be vaccinated – and boosted – and despatched us proof of that vaccination earlier than the occasion. We inspired people to take a COVID check earlier than journey, and whereas it wasn’t required, everybody opted in. Upon arrival, COVID checks had been administered within the yard of the home and solely when the check got here again detrimental may attendees go inside.

The occasion itself was centered round the home itself, so it felt actually good to be indoors with individuals we knew had been secure. Whereas we all know that it wasn’t a assure of zero COVID, everybody did arrive detrimental and left the occasion nonetheless detrimental. A couple of member instructed us they had been extraordinarily grateful that we took COVID so significantly, and that was the rationale why they felt comfy attending the occasion.

Logistics and Particulars of the Occasion

The Lengthy Weekend ticket included lodging and all meals for the weekend apart from Saturday night time dinner, so we had been in a position to concentrate on spending the time with one another and having plenty of nice conversations.

Whereas there are many occasions that happen at inns the place they hire out one or two convention rooms, there’s something further particular in all staying in a home collectively. Similar to with all components of WPF, whereas we’re a cash neighborhood, we don’t restrict ourselves to only cash discuss. We’re complete individuals, and our house is about complete individuals.

Life – Group – Finance – Household – Friendship. We’re greater than a cash group. We’re a tremendous group of girls and nonbinary people coming collectively to type wonderful neighborhood and actual life friendships. We’re a Life Mastermind. Having the chance to have an in individual occasion simply allowed us to solidify that even additional.

Earlier than we even had time to settle again in at dwelling, we had Insiders ask us after we had been doing the following Lengthy Weekend, prepared to start out planning and shopping for their tickets. If that isn’t excessive reward, I don’t know what’s.

Insiders Testimonials

After the journey, we requested the attendees to share in their very own phrases how they felt concerning the occasion, so we’ll finish this submit with that:

“I’ve by no means felt so instantly comfy with any group of individuals in my life. WPF Insiders are a particular breed who embody the kindness we have to see on this planet. Lengthy Weekend was NOT lengthy sufficient – I may spend weeks speaking about private finance, politics, and life usually with these wonderful people! That doesn’t even depend the period of time I may spend working simulations on cfiresim with them!” – Heather

“The WPF Lengthy Weekend was fabulous. It was the proper mixture of deliberate actions and free time to get to know individuals. The integrity, compassion, kindness, and openness that everybody confirmed from the second all of us arrived bred a direct consolation to speak not solely about finance, however to open up about imperfect relationships and life occasions that may usually be painted as problematic. The bravery proven within the humility of everybody was actually wonderful! Thanks for an exquisite weekend the place I made mates, and in addition realized some issues about finance.” – Nadina

PS – Our Summer season WPF Insiders Cohort is opening on Wednesday – however when you’re a Mission Supporter you will get early entry right this moment! We offered out final time in lower than 24 hours, so if you would like in, be certain to behave quick! As a reminder, *solely* Insiders are in a position to buy tickets to in individual occasions like Lengthy Weekend. (Girls and nonbinary people solely, as at all times.)