I just returned from one of my favorite traditional vacations – my reunion with Minnesota friends for an annual island retreat.
I met the host of this annual island adventure, Chris, during my stint as a contractor at Optum in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in the summer of 2016. Since that summer (minus 2020) I’ve gotten to participate in this much-anticipated event.
The island retreat always includes playfulness! For the last few years, we’ve been coming up with a “theme” and this year we chose a Pirate theme. Our host (“Captain Chris!”) has an August birthday so we had a treasure hidden for him this year.
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Treasure.jpeg)
Brenda (always full of fun ideas) brought T-shirts and stencils along for us to create our personalized pirate attire for our photo shoot.
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Making-Pirate-Costumes.jpeg)
Nancy brought wine made from her own vineyard!
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/A-Toast.jpeg)
Food is always a highlight of the trip – each meal prepared with love! Both delicious and beautiful!
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Chacuterie-2022.jpeg)
Can’t get much better than this!
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Boat-2022.jpeg)
Friends, food, and plenty of fun!
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Yard-Games.jpeg)
Brooke, the wonder dog, watching out for neighboring pirates!
![](https://www.carpediemday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Brooke-2022.jpeg)
Here are some videos and blog posts from previous island trips:
2019: This was Week 33 of my 60 until 60 Project – The 60 week countdown to my 60th birthday: Week 33: Minnesota Island Adventure
2016: My first year on the Island – This group participated with me in the “Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen”: GISHWHES on The Great Northern Island
2016: How I met this group, thanks to Scott: Making Friends