Registration is OPEN contact Dave or Andi to join us in Italy!
3 rooms remain
Andi: [email protected]
Dave: [email protected]
3 rooms remain
Andi: [email protected]
Dave: [email protected]
A Harvest of Years: Aging with Intention
Puglia, Italy May 20 - 27, 2026
Puglia, Italy May 20 - 27, 2026
On earth today there are more old people than ever before in the history of mankind. And fewer elders.
In the Western world, older ones are not typically revered as elders who are a source of wisdom, guidance, and comfort. Rather, we are too often expected to find retirement solace in harmless hobbies until eventually passing away quietly. And yet, the world needs us to step into the ancient role of elder and actively support the next generations on their journeys into their futures.
These retreats are designed to help you consider several key important questions regarding your next, and perhaps, final chapters of life.
If you have begun to consider what your eventual death might mean for your life now, you are ready for this retreat. It is designed for guests 50+ who want to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions about what old age and “retirement” mean in our western culture. Our gatherings are also for those looking for a community of inquirers into this phase of life’s journey with which to share hopes, dreams, fears, and laughs. We will be walking on cobblestones, getting in & out of vans, climbing steps, traipsing through olive groves and ancient landmarks. Please note you'll need adequate mobility and proper footwear for these activities.
What will we be experiencing together?
Our time together will be a delicious mix of structured and informal group conversations, and a weaving together of creative exploration of your inner landscape using various art mediums, journaling, and poetry. Solo reflection time is also built in for you to get clear about your heart’s desires for your final chapters.
Our Italy retreat will be highlighted by excursions to small, historic villages and the town of Lecce on market day. We'll make pasta, enjoy a tasting of Puglia’s world-famous olive oils, try regional crafts and enjoy time around the table with fabulous chef-prepared food and wine! In this intimate community setting, we will share our lives together away from our typical hectic days and our culture.
WHERE: Our home for the week will be Masseria Caretti Grande
https://masseriacarettigrande.com/en/home-en/
In the Western world, older ones are not typically revered as elders who are a source of wisdom, guidance, and comfort. Rather, we are too often expected to find retirement solace in harmless hobbies until eventually passing away quietly. And yet, the world needs us to step into the ancient role of elder and actively support the next generations on their journeys into their futures.
These retreats are designed to help you consider several key important questions regarding your next, and perhaps, final chapters of life.
- What does my aging body have to teach me about living well now?
- How might my life’s meaning and purpose reach a zenith in these last decades?
- What do I have to give back, and to whom?
- How might I become a true elder?
- When I think about getting old and dying, how can I face my fears and uncertainties with love and courage?
If you have begun to consider what your eventual death might mean for your life now, you are ready for this retreat. It is designed for guests 50+ who want to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions about what old age and “retirement” mean in our western culture. Our gatherings are also for those looking for a community of inquirers into this phase of life’s journey with which to share hopes, dreams, fears, and laughs. We will be walking on cobblestones, getting in & out of vans, climbing steps, traipsing through olive groves and ancient landmarks. Please note you'll need adequate mobility and proper footwear for these activities.
What will we be experiencing together?
Our time together will be a delicious mix of structured and informal group conversations, and a weaving together of creative exploration of your inner landscape using various art mediums, journaling, and poetry. Solo reflection time is also built in for you to get clear about your heart’s desires for your final chapters.
Our Italy retreat will be highlighted by excursions to small, historic villages and the town of Lecce on market day. We'll make pasta, enjoy a tasting of Puglia’s world-famous olive oils, try regional crafts and enjoy time around the table with fabulous chef-prepared food and wine! In this intimate community setting, we will share our lives together away from our typical hectic days and our culture.
WHERE: Our home for the week will be Masseria Caretti Grande
https://masseriacarettigrande.com/en/home-en/
Kind Words from Past Participants
"While a focus on the slow process of aging would seem like the thing you could put off looking into, I found the converse to be true: the sooner the better! Having the space with Dave & Andi to search things out more fully gave me momentum to keep the conversation going with my partner after the retreat was over." FRED
"The Aging Consciously Retreat in France began my journey into planning for the 'final chapter' of my life. It gave me time and permission to consider the scary finitude of this life and imagine the possibilities for my remaining time on earth." RHONDA
"While a focus on the slow process of aging would seem like the thing you could put off looking into, I found the converse to be true: the sooner the better! Having the space with Dave & Andi to search things out more fully gave me momentum to keep the conversation going with my partner after the retreat was over." FRED
"The Aging Consciously Retreat in France began my journey into planning for the 'final chapter' of my life. It gave me time and permission to consider the scary finitude of this life and imagine the possibilities for my remaining time on earth." RHONDA
TENTATIVE Daily Itinerary
Like any trip, Itineraries are subject to change based on the desires and needs of the group and weather, etc...
Day One: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Plan to arrive early in Italy to enjoy the historic and varied "heel of the boot" which is Puglia. Join us in the afternoon of May 20 at Masseria Caretti Grande. Check in, explore the grounds, have refreshments and meet the group for a sumptuous Welcome Dinner !
Day Two: Thursday, May 21
We'll be staying at our masseria (Italian 'farm house') for the day. Our conversations today will help us to get to know one another, our goals for our time at the retreat, and set the stage for everything to come.
Day Three: Friday, May 22
We will spend the day and evening experiencing Puglia!
Our first destination is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello, famous for the prehistoric Trulli conical stone huts. Our private guide will enlighten us about the history of these fairy tale like structures and you'll have time to explore the shops.
Our next stop will be Ostuni, a classic whitewashed old town of the Apulia region. The Ostuni Cathedral combines Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine elements, while the arched Porta San Demetrio is one of 2 remaining medieval gates. Time for exploring, enjoying lunch with new friends, taking stunning photos and picking up treasures at local shops will round out the afternoon. We're not finished yet though!
Next we will be off to a special masseria for an olive grove tour and olive oil tasting followed by a dinner full of regional specialities and wine.
Day Four: Saturday, May 23
After a late night, we'll have a slow morning start. Today our theme will be “our life journey and our received stories about aging.” Our paths to this point in our lives have taught us much, through joyous high points and grindingly hard low points. We’ll explore the alchemy of all these which transform into the gold of wisdom and humility. We’ll also look at our experiences of old people throughout our lives. Based on those experiences, do you have fears, hopes, concerns, dreams that influence how you’re anticipating your own journey will go? An art workshop and some journalling will help you visualize and go deeper with your perspectives.
Day Five: Sunday, May 24
We'll make our way to Abba di Santa Maria di Ceratte, very close to our masseria. Once a Byzantine monastery with scriptorium and library, then an agricultural production center dedicated in the processing of olives, the Abbey of Cerrate gives a fascinating tale of its dual soul as a place of worship and historic farmhouse. Andi will lead you in a (fun and beginner friendly) sketching lesson and we will use this ancient site for mediative exercises. Lunch will be out and about near the Adriatic Sea. Returning from the Abbey, we’ll have time for reflection, solitude, naps, or exercise to bring balance and grounding to everything we’ve experienced so far. And then, we’ll enjoy our deepening community over a sumptuous meal and wine for dinner.
Day Six: Monday, May 25
We will begin the day in Lecce, twenty minutes away, to wander the market and see this lovely town full of Baroque architecture. You'll find some delicious place for lunch before we get our hands messy at our private class at local Papier-Mâché studio! This art form is unique to Lecce and you'll see sculptures affixed in churches, for sale at tourist shops and in the Museo della Cartapesta (paper-maché museum.) After our fun and messy art experiences in Lecce, we’ll return to the masseria for a conversational gathering to explore our experiences of our aging bodies and the ways in which they are leading us deeper into our emerging self-images as elders. A vital choice most of us must make is whether we’ll consent to (even welcome!) the signs of our aging or refuse to accept the inevitable. Today, we’ll also consider what the role of an elder is, and how we can shape our lives in that direction.
Day Seven: Tuesday, May 26
At this point, it's our genuine hope that we all will have explored our inner landscapes more deeply, even as we explored Puglia. On our final full day together, we’ll blend conversation, art, and reflection to explore topics about conscious aging that we haven’t gotten to or had enough time to deepen. As we make choices about how to hold this season consciously and how we will contribute our collected wisdom to younger generations, we will also be ready to CELEBRATE. Our Farewell Dinner will be provided by the Masseria Caretti Grande team!
Day Eight: Wednesday, May 27
Now a meaningful community of sages, we'll bid farewell to our hosts and one another for onward travel and more adventures in aging! Breakfast will be provided and then we will depart for Brindisi and Beyond...
Like any trip, Itineraries are subject to change based on the desires and needs of the group and weather, etc...
Day One: Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Plan to arrive early in Italy to enjoy the historic and varied "heel of the boot" which is Puglia. Join us in the afternoon of May 20 at Masseria Caretti Grande. Check in, explore the grounds, have refreshments and meet the group for a sumptuous Welcome Dinner !
Day Two: Thursday, May 21
We'll be staying at our masseria (Italian 'farm house') for the day. Our conversations today will help us to get to know one another, our goals for our time at the retreat, and set the stage for everything to come.
Day Three: Friday, May 22
We will spend the day and evening experiencing Puglia!
Our first destination is the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello, famous for the prehistoric Trulli conical stone huts. Our private guide will enlighten us about the history of these fairy tale like structures and you'll have time to explore the shops.
Our next stop will be Ostuni, a classic whitewashed old town of the Apulia region. The Ostuni Cathedral combines Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine elements, while the arched Porta San Demetrio is one of 2 remaining medieval gates. Time for exploring, enjoying lunch with new friends, taking stunning photos and picking up treasures at local shops will round out the afternoon. We're not finished yet though!
Next we will be off to a special masseria for an olive grove tour and olive oil tasting followed by a dinner full of regional specialities and wine.
Day Four: Saturday, May 23
After a late night, we'll have a slow morning start. Today our theme will be “our life journey and our received stories about aging.” Our paths to this point in our lives have taught us much, through joyous high points and grindingly hard low points. We’ll explore the alchemy of all these which transform into the gold of wisdom and humility. We’ll also look at our experiences of old people throughout our lives. Based on those experiences, do you have fears, hopes, concerns, dreams that influence how you’re anticipating your own journey will go? An art workshop and some journalling will help you visualize and go deeper with your perspectives.
Day Five: Sunday, May 24
We'll make our way to Abba di Santa Maria di Ceratte, very close to our masseria. Once a Byzantine monastery with scriptorium and library, then an agricultural production center dedicated in the processing of olives, the Abbey of Cerrate gives a fascinating tale of its dual soul as a place of worship and historic farmhouse. Andi will lead you in a (fun and beginner friendly) sketching lesson and we will use this ancient site for mediative exercises. Lunch will be out and about near the Adriatic Sea. Returning from the Abbey, we’ll have time for reflection, solitude, naps, or exercise to bring balance and grounding to everything we’ve experienced so far. And then, we’ll enjoy our deepening community over a sumptuous meal and wine for dinner.
Day Six: Monday, May 25
We will begin the day in Lecce, twenty minutes away, to wander the market and see this lovely town full of Baroque architecture. You'll find some delicious place for lunch before we get our hands messy at our private class at local Papier-Mâché studio! This art form is unique to Lecce and you'll see sculptures affixed in churches, for sale at tourist shops and in the Museo della Cartapesta (paper-maché museum.) After our fun and messy art experiences in Lecce, we’ll return to the masseria for a conversational gathering to explore our experiences of our aging bodies and the ways in which they are leading us deeper into our emerging self-images as elders. A vital choice most of us must make is whether we’ll consent to (even welcome!) the signs of our aging or refuse to accept the inevitable. Today, we’ll also consider what the role of an elder is, and how we can shape our lives in that direction.
Day Seven: Tuesday, May 26
At this point, it's our genuine hope that we all will have explored our inner landscapes more deeply, even as we explored Puglia. On our final full day together, we’ll blend conversation, art, and reflection to explore topics about conscious aging that we haven’t gotten to or had enough time to deepen. As we make choices about how to hold this season consciously and how we will contribute our collected wisdom to younger generations, we will also be ready to CELEBRATE. Our Farewell Dinner will be provided by the Masseria Caretti Grande team!
Day Eight: Wednesday, May 27
Now a meaningful community of sages, we'll bid farewell to our hosts and one another for onward travel and more adventures in aging! Breakfast will be provided and then we will depart for Brindisi and Beyond...
INVESTMENT
We are can welcome 13 participants to our Puglia Retreat.
Your investment includes:
*Seven nights at Masseria Caretti Grande in a bright, King bed en-suite room. Please note that all rooms are different, but equally unique and comfortable.
*Seven sumptuous dinners, seven breakfasts and three lunches. (Other lunches with your new friends when we are out and about)
*All excursion transportation in comfortable 17 seater van with professional drivers.
*Olive Oil tasting and dinner at a memorable masseria which is part of the slow food movement.
*Private papier maché class in Lecce and all other art supplies.
*Real time personal coaching as desired, Enneagram typing and other mind/body work.
*Leadership of two 'beginning seniors' and avid travelers who will be taking care of details and leading conversations and workshops from beginning to end.
*Special surprises along the way.
The following are not included in your retreat registration:
*Airfare and associated fees.
*Transportation TO Masseria Caretti Grande (it is easily accessible from Brindisi Airport. Bari Airport is further away, but also an option.)
*Travel Insurance. Highly recommended.
*Shopping, spa services, laundry and most alcoholic beverages.
We are can welcome 13 participants to our Puglia Retreat.
Your investment includes:
*Seven nights at Masseria Caretti Grande in a bright, King bed en-suite room. Please note that all rooms are different, but equally unique and comfortable.
*Seven sumptuous dinners, seven breakfasts and three lunches. (Other lunches with your new friends when we are out and about)
*All excursion transportation in comfortable 17 seater van with professional drivers.
*Olive Oil tasting and dinner at a memorable masseria which is part of the slow food movement.
*Private papier maché class in Lecce and all other art supplies.
*Real time personal coaching as desired, Enneagram typing and other mind/body work.
*Leadership of two 'beginning seniors' and avid travelers who will be taking care of details and leading conversations and workshops from beginning to end.
*Special surprises along the way.
The following are not included in your retreat registration:
*Airfare and associated fees.
*Transportation TO Masseria Caretti Grande (it is easily accessible from Brindisi Airport. Bari Airport is further away, but also an option.)
*Travel Insurance. Highly recommended.
*Shopping, spa services, laundry and most alcoholic beverages.
Single Guest Room Rate $4,500 for ONE
for those who wish to have a private, en-suite room.
All meals, excursions, conversations, supplies and experiences included.
Double Room Rate $8,200 for TWO BOOKING TOGETHER
for those who would like to book with a partner/ friend/ family member.
You'll be sharing a king bed in a large en-suite room.
All meals, excursions, conversations, supplies and experiences included.
for those who wish to have a private, en-suite room.
All meals, excursions, conversations, supplies and experiences included.
Double Room Rate $8,200 for TWO BOOKING TOGETHER
for those who would like to book with a partner/ friend/ family member.
You'll be sharing a king bed in a large en-suite room.
All meals, excursions, conversations, supplies and experiences included.
TO REGISTER: Please email Andi at [email protected]
All registrations will be honored in the order which they are received via the time/ date on the email.
1) Include your name, address, email, phone
2) Room preference: Single or Double. If booking a Double, please include all info above for both guests
3) Andi or Dave will confirm availability and your registration choices.
4) A $500 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit per person will be due once we confirm your registration.
Deposits can be paid by check, Zelle, Venmo or Credit Card. We'll confirm this with you.
We hope you're inspired and eagerly await our journey together!!!
All registrations will be honored in the order which they are received via the time/ date on the email.
1) Include your name, address, email, phone
2) Room preference: Single or Double. If booking a Double, please include all info above for both guests
3) Andi or Dave will confirm availability and your registration choices.
4) A $500 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit per person will be due once we confirm your registration.
Deposits can be paid by check, Zelle, Venmo or Credit Card. We'll confirm this with you.
We hope you're inspired and eagerly await our journey together!!!
The fine print:
Please secure travel insurance shortly after registering for the trip. Sometimes our best laid plans change and that's what trip insurance is for. We strongly encourage you to purchase insurance so that in the event you cannot attend the retreat, you can recover your investment. We already have a considerable amount of cash invested in this trip and that will only increase the closer we get to the event. That's why we must implement the following:
While the deposit is not refundable, if you must cancel the following will apply:
Please secure travel insurance shortly after registering for the trip. Sometimes our best laid plans change and that's what trip insurance is for. We strongly encourage you to purchase insurance so that in the event you cannot attend the retreat, you can recover your investment. We already have a considerable amount of cash invested in this trip and that will only increase the closer we get to the event. That's why we must implement the following:
While the deposit is not refundable, if you must cancel the following will apply:
- For cancellation between 12 weeks and 4 weeks prior to trip commencement, 50% of the total cost of the package.
- For cancellation after the first payment is due but prior to 12 weeks before our trip, full refund (less the deposit) if we are able to fill your spot. If we cannot fill your spot, we will base the refund on the investment we've already made. In other words, we'll refund what we can.
- For cancellation 30 days prior up to the trip commencement, 100% of the total cost of the package.
- If you make adjustments to the trip, such as deciding to leave a day early, there will not be reimbursement for unused lodging, food, excursions, etc... .
- Please note we are not underwritten by an organization and offering this trip in good faith. It is in this generosity of spirit that we ask you to participate, and we cannot control all the outcomes.
- If the world turns upside down again and the trip is cancelled, we'll do our best to prorate the deposit based on reservations that we've paid which aren't refundable.
Your trip leaders:
Andi Schrader, M. Ed., CPCC, Forest Light Coaching, LLC
I'm Andi, a certified Co-active coach, lifelong artist and seasoned traveler who believes that creativity, curiosity and courage are all connected. I eagerly guide others to explore new ways of seeing along their own journeys. I lead international art, hiking and soul work retreats for creatives, offer 1:1 coaching and share creative tools that help people to see their lives in fresh ways. With decades of life experience (my white hair gives it away,) I approach my work with warmth, humor and grounded presence. As an Enneagram 7, I bring energy and openness to everything I do, from guiding retreats in Wales to stitching in my studio to hiking mountain trails. My background includes founding a progressive elementary school, running a creative business for 16 years and making mixed media art. I've been married to Dave for 41 years and have two adult children and two grand pups. As you'll see below, I won't be getting any cats.
Dave Schrader, Ph.D., Principal, Leadership Circle
After a career in corporate leadership development that ranged from taking leaders on outdoor adventures to working with large groups in conference center ballrooms, I’m now focusing my attention on finding the path into true elderhood. As I’ve grown weary of the continual and compulsive false urgency of the business world, I’ve found true solace in contemplative practices that are surfacing the insight and wisdom that the world needs in these hard times. This path through aging and into our mortality is a universal one but can only be walked well if we’re mindful and conscious about our choices and hopes. It seems that I’m being summoned to become a guide on this path, and hence my part of the retreats and coaching that Andi and I are doing together.
I’m also an avid cyclist, love losing myself in mountains anywhere in the world, savor many cups of good coffee every day and, in the last 15 years, have been recovering from major surgeries way too often (bikes and ladders, you know). Andi and I have been married for 41 years now, and are both grateful for the chance to continue joining our paths in meaningful ways. We’ve got two grown kids (Ella, 35yo, and Seth 31yo), and no cats.
Andi Schrader, M. Ed., CPCC, Forest Light Coaching, LLC
I'm Andi, a certified Co-active coach, lifelong artist and seasoned traveler who believes that creativity, curiosity and courage are all connected. I eagerly guide others to explore new ways of seeing along their own journeys. I lead international art, hiking and soul work retreats for creatives, offer 1:1 coaching and share creative tools that help people to see their lives in fresh ways. With decades of life experience (my white hair gives it away,) I approach my work with warmth, humor and grounded presence. As an Enneagram 7, I bring energy and openness to everything I do, from guiding retreats in Wales to stitching in my studio to hiking mountain trails. My background includes founding a progressive elementary school, running a creative business for 16 years and making mixed media art. I've been married to Dave for 41 years and have two adult children and two grand pups. As you'll see below, I won't be getting any cats.
Dave Schrader, Ph.D., Principal, Leadership Circle
After a career in corporate leadership development that ranged from taking leaders on outdoor adventures to working with large groups in conference center ballrooms, I’m now focusing my attention on finding the path into true elderhood. As I’ve grown weary of the continual and compulsive false urgency of the business world, I’ve found true solace in contemplative practices that are surfacing the insight and wisdom that the world needs in these hard times. This path through aging and into our mortality is a universal one but can only be walked well if we’re mindful and conscious about our choices and hopes. It seems that I’m being summoned to become a guide on this path, and hence my part of the retreats and coaching that Andi and I are doing together.
I’m also an avid cyclist, love losing myself in mountains anywhere in the world, savor many cups of good coffee every day and, in the last 15 years, have been recovering from major surgeries way too often (bikes and ladders, you know). Andi and I have been married for 41 years now, and are both grateful for the chance to continue joining our paths in meaningful ways. We’ve got two grown kids (Ella, 35yo, and Seth 31yo), and no cats.