Right now, with the need to make the decision on the castle by next month, the pressing concern appears to be that we get a headcount of those willing to commit for SURE.... and see if we have enough to make the 'go-no-go' decision on renting that place on the beach. We already put money down for a deposit, $500 I think, which was $50 each, but the remainder on the rent for the week, $1,800, is due by the end of next month if we are gonna hold it. And a big, though refundable damage deposit later. So commitment has a price!
If we do hold it, we have decided we need at least 10 people to stick their $$$ out there now. No one is individually responsible for whether we do it or not. If we don't do it, we will make do! - We will do something else that will work! I hope to talk enough people into it, because at ~$200 for the week, it will be a MUCH better bargain if we do than all of us staying in individual hotels would be. But the biggest benefit to the castle by far is the original reason we decided to try it. And that benefit to me is the 'down time for just talking' that we will have that way. Having to meet up from hotels at events and at restaurants, we won't have the same opportunity to have a long talk on the couch at night or walk on the beach with the first person who gets up, if we are running from one scheduled event to the next. But by talking people out of money, I am taking a risk that is not lost on me.
I want to state for the record that in all this talk of money, the pressing concern is not, in fact, money. It is the people I want to meet and continue to be friends with no matter how well this moot goes!
I want to make sure that everyone jumps into any commitment willingly and accepting of some risk. Money and trips and planning are risky to friendships and we need to be careful is all and remember the friends behind the plans.
So to everyone! - I am willing to risk what dollars we should to hold this castle if there are enough others for whom the amount is an acceptable risk if it all disappeared. I am not willing to risk friendships.... So as far as entmoot goes.... Say you will come if you can.... If you can and will, commit $$ to hold the castle for the good of everyone. Know that some will end up having payed more or less to be there, but we payed because we wanted to come, no one should look at the balance sheet at the end and wonder why so and so committed at the last and didn't have to pay. Already it is easy for me to imagine that we might think so and so should pay more for food because they have a bigger family or didn't put up the money for the castle... I want to avoid that at any cost. No one should feel they payed more than they should have or that someone else didn't pay enough. ALL of us I know, are very generous people, and some have bigger hearts than they do wallets, and bigger things to pay for than frivolous entmoots. And some of us have families and uncertain jobs and just can't plan months in advance. This trip should be fun first, and accounted for only as needed to make the first requirement succeed. That is what I ask everyone try to remember. I bet all of you agree and I didn't need to say any of this.
This is level jumping, this moot. Friendships are tested this way!
At that moment Elrond came out with Gandalf, and he called the Company to him. 'This is my last word,' he said in a low voice. 'The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save members of the Company and the Council, and only then in gravest need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road.'
`Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,' said Gimli.
'Maybe,' said Elrond, `but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall.'
'Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart,' said Gimli.
`Or break it,' said Elrond. `Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!'~FoTR, The Ring Goes South.
With all THAT said.... here is the current count, and below that, the cost breakdown dependent on the number.... To some degree you have to commit before you know how much it will cost.
Entmoot Castle list: *'s reserve a bedroom. Others will be crashing on couches, cots, tents on the beach or wherever.
Definate Castle list:
HairOfTheDog AKA River Daughter
Ramius
Corin Stormhands and Junior
Ecurbh
Ksen and family*
g'nad and family
RMDupree
Overtaxed
Haven't heard from yet, but am pretty sure will be Yeses.
WNeighbor
SuziQ and Sir SuziQ*
Those coming but not staying at the castle:
Sam Cree
Bear and Rose of Rosebear
"well, maybe, I hope so" commitments:
My Back Yard AKA Belladona Took
Trini
2Jedismom and family
JenB
Prof Engineer (electrical wizard) and msdrby (Dancing Eagle)
mstar
HHDs who cannot come (but can change their mind any time and will be missed if they don't...)
Osagebowman
Alkhin
Rocko
Bottom line boring old accounting stuff:
Remainder of Rent - due in ksen's hands by 9/25
Total Cost / Number paying
$1,800 / 20 = $90
$1,800 / 19 = $95
$1,800 / 18 = $100
$1,800 / 17 = $106
$1,800 / 16 = $113
$1,800 / 15 = $120
$1,800 / 14 = $129
$1,800 / 13 = $138
$1,800 / 12 = $150
$1,800 / 11 = $164
$1,800 / 10 = $180
$1,800 / 9 = $200
$1,800 / 8 = $225
$1,800 / 7 = $257
Needed December - Damage Deposit (this part would be refunded later)
Total Cost / Number paying
$2,230 / 20 = $112
$2,230 / 19 = $117
$2,230 / 18 = $124
$2,230 / 17 = $131
$2,230 / 16 = $139
$2,230 / 15 = $149
$2,230 / 14 = $159
$2,230 / 13 = $172
$2,230 / 12 = $186
$2,230 / 11 = $203
$2,230 / 10 = $223
$2,230 / 9 = $248
$2,230 / 8 = $279
$2,230 / 7 = $319
I am too Hair. But perhaps their is a third way...so to speak. Maybe there's a less expensive house, instead of a castle.
I can say this as one who lives two hours from the coast and who spend at least a week every summer at the beach. But being on the water is not that important to me, nor are the pool and hot tub (it has a pool and hot tub right?).
We could find a place with less amenities that is less spendy. But we'd have to look now.
So, I'd put our options this way:
1) We decide right away if we have enough people to rent the castle, if not...
2) We look for a cheaper alternative that will still work as a gathering place and if we can't find that...
3) We look for individual accommodations.
When looking at cost, in addition to food we also need to remember the cost of the theater for ROTK. It didn't seem that pricey, but we'll have to account for it. (ksen when do we have to confirm that $$$?)
That's what I think anyway.
Well put Hair....