Flourishing as We Age
with Laura Davis and Evelyn Hall
May 5 - May 10, 2025
lauradavis.net/flourishing

 

Payments, Cancellations and Refunds

Cost: $2,850 for a spot in a double-occupancy room; $3,850 for a standard single occupancy room

Payment Schedule: A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due with your registration. The remaining balance will be due on March 1, 2025.

Price Includes: Room, board and three delicious meals a day; all instruction for a life-changing retreat; the services of your capable, compassionate leaders; an amazing community that will lead to deep connections and new friends; and a copy of Laura's award-winning memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars.

Not Included: Transportation to and from Santa Cruz; personal, medical, and travel insurance to protect your investment in the retreat; and tips for the kitchen and the cleaning staff.

Retreat Tuition Cancellations and Refunds Policy: $1,000 of your initial payment is nonrefundable and will be forfeited in all cases. After March 1, 2025, there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. Travel insurance will provide your only option for recouping your tuition investment.

There will be no refunds for leaving the retreat early or arriving late. Further, there are no refunds for any part of the program that you do not attend or participate in, either by personal choice or because of sickness. Although we do our best to avoid this, it may be necessary for The Writer’s Journey LLC and the Prometheus Family Support to cancel a workshop due to insufficient registration, travel restrictions, or any other cause. If a workshop is canceled due to low enrollment, you will be notified at least 40 days in advance of the workshop dates, and your entire payment to The Writers Journey LLC will be refunded to you within 21 days after the cancellation. Refund of payments made constitutes full settlement, and releases Laura Davis, The Writer’s Journey LLC, Evelyn Hall, Prometheus Family Support, Karyn Bristol, Gail Warner, and their agents (hereafter called the "Released Party") and from any further liability. In the event that the Released Party must cancel a retreat, the Released Party are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred, such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel bookings.

Travel Insurance: Travel Insurance is strongly recommended for this workshop. You can purchase travel insurance whether you drive or fly to the retreat. We encourage you to purchase an insurance policy to cover medical evacuation coverage, trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay coverage, medical coverage, and if available in your state, coverage that will cover you should you need to quarantine because of Covid.

The add-on travel insurance offered when you buy your airline tickets may not be sufficient. Nor will the travel policies that may be included in your credit card benefits—these may not be adequate or provide everything you need.

It’s essential that you do your own due diligence because policy provisions vary by company, state, and depend on your age, and sometimes preexisting conditions. You can have a travel agent arrange for your insurance or you can do your own research—but do your research.

We encourage you to book your flights with our travel planner, Linda Schwedock, so arrival times, departure times, and ground transportation can be coordinated. If you need assistance, she will be able to help you purchase travel insurance for this trip, whether or not you are flying to the retreat.

Linda is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am until 3 pm Pacific Time:

Linda Schwedock, CTC
Pacific Harbor Travel, Inc.
519 Seabright Ave., Suite 201
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831.427.5000
Linda@PacificHarborTravel.com
https://pacificharbortravel.com/

Here are some of the questions you’ll want ask regarding travel insurance:

• Under what circumstances can I cancel my trip and have it be fully refunded?
• (If 70 or older) Do you cover travelers 70 and older?
• What about my preexisting conditions? What do I need to know?
• Will the insurer refund the full cost of my trip and all travel costs if I have a positive Covid test before I arrive or upon arrival? What documentation and evidence are necessary to claim this benefit?
• What if I get Covid at the workshop and need to leave the trip or pay for additional lodging or other costs? What will and won’t be covered?

Also, important to note:

• In most instances, insurance MUST be purchased within 14 days of your first booking date if you want the preexisting exclusion to be waived.
• Your initial deposit for this retreat is not refundable. After March 1, 2025, the only refunds offered for this trip will be through travel insurance. Travel insurance is the best way to protect your investment. Be sure you understand what your insurance will and won’t cover.
• Be sure to remain flexible with your travel arrangements. You should have the ability to change or cancel your hotel and airline reservations if needed. Special internet deals, promotional airfares, or reservations from discounted online travel engines will not be appropriate.
• Some companies treat Covid like any other illness, but not all insurance companies do. Some companies exclude coverage for Covid—which will not provide adequate coverage for this retreat. Please be sure to ask.
• Cancel-for-any-reason or interrupt-for-any-reason insurance is also available, but it is significantly more expensive.

Authorization and Release for the Use of Photographic Images and Video

I hereby grant to The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Evelyn Hall, Prometheus Family Support, and their agents, officials, representatives, or assigned agencies, including officers, employees, or related personnel both individually and collectively (the “Released Party”) the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission in respect of photographic portraits, videos or pictures that the Released Party had taken of me (the “Photographic Images”), whether individually or together with one another and/or other individuals and the content of any verbal or written statements made by me and used in connection with such Photographic Images, in the name of the Released Party or otherwise.

I further grant to Released Party the absolute and irrevocable right to use, re-use, publish and re-publish the Photographic Images in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographic images, and in art, editorials, advertising and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever including, without limitation, the promotion of any websites or brands owned or operated by the Released Party without restriction as to alteration; by any medium or channel including but not limited to television, radio, newspaper or other periodical, Internet, or any other means whether electronic or otherwise; and to use my name, location, profession, and/or any other identifying or potentially identifying information in connection therewith if the Released Party so chooses.

I hereby release and discharge the Released Party from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of the Photographic Images, including without limitation any and all claims for libel, invasion of privacy, or false light, and from any and all liability for damages of whatever kind, which may, at any time, result to me, my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns because of compliance with this Authorization and Release.

This Authorization and Release shall also inure to the benefit of the heirs, legal representatives, licensees, and assigns of the Photographer, as well as the persons for whom s/he took the Photographic Images.

I have read the foregoing and fully understand the contents thereof. This Authorization and Release shall be binding upon me, my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.

Assumption of All Risks

You acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied to participate in the workshop designated above. You are voluntarily participating in the workshop with knowledge that any potential travel involves numerous risks and dangers including, but not limited to, a risk of illness, injury or death, which may be caused by: forces of nature, civil unrest, terrorism, road conditions, injuries inflicted by animals, insects, reptiles or plants, trails, hotels, vehicles, boats or other means of conveyance; high altitude accident, accident or illness without access to means of rapid evacuation or the availability of medical supplies; and the lack of adequacy of medical attention once provided. You assume the risk of negligence on the part of The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Evelyn Hall, Prometheus Family Support, and their affiliated organizations and their employees, teachers, volunteers or other agencies in connection with said workshop.

Release of Liability

AS LAWFUL CONSIDERATION for being permitted by The Writer’s Journey LLC, Laura Davis, Evelyn Hall, Prometheus Family Support and their associates (referred to hereafter as the "Released Party"), to participate in such workshop and accompanying activities, I hereby agree that I, my heirs, legal representatives or any member of my family will not make a claim against or the Released Party for bodily injury, death, emotional trauma or property damage resulting from my participation in the retreat.

The Released Party shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, for bodily injury or property damage for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to the following causes: acts of God, pandemics, epidemics, detention, annoyance, weather, quarantines, strikes, civil disturbance, theft, negligence, default, changes in government regulations, terrorism, war or failure of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled.

I therefore release and discharge the Released Party from and against any and all liability arising from my participation in the retreat even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the Released Party.

If any portion of this agreement is unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect. Under no circumstances shall the Released Party be liable to any workshop participant for more than the tuition cost of the workshop applied for on this document. I waive any charge-back rights and, in the event of dispute, requests for a refund will be made using the procedures described under the “Cancellation and Refunds” section above. All applications are subject to acceptance by the Released Party. Upon acceptance of my application, this agreement shall be deemed to have been entered into at Santa Cruz, California and shall be construed according to the laws of the State of California. In the unlikely event a legal dispute should arise involving any subject matter whatsoever, I agree that the exclusive venue for any legal action shall be Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California.

Covid, RSV, Flu, and Other Contagious Disease Policy

Although the pandemic is officially over, Covid remains a virus with potentially life-threatening consequences for some people, particularly those who are older or have pre-existing conditions. We expect that there will be people at our retreat that fit one or both of these categories. Long Covid is also a possibility for anyone who gets Covid, even a mild infection. So, our Covid policy begins with the assumption that most attendees would prefer to avoid a Covid exposure. Yet contracting Covid or another communicable disease is an inherent risk of social exposure and travel.

With these things in mind, our policy is as follows:

Vaccination Requirements: The Writer’s Journey encourages but does not require participants to be vaccinated for Covid and other communicable diseases, as recommended by the CDC.

Masking: The Writer’s Journey is a mask-friendly environment. We respect people’s choice in the matter and ask that all participants do the same.

Guidelines: We want to do everything possible to protect and care for our community, especially those with greater vulnerability. We ask that you follow these guidelines, not only to reduce your own risk of infection, but also to protect our retreat community as a whole.

Refunds: The Writer’s Journey will not offer refunds or expense reimbursement to those unable to take part in certain activities due to a positive Covid test, illness, or contagion of any kind.

If you test positive on the first day of the retreat (or at any time thereafter), you will no longer be able to stay on site. So, following these policies will not only safeguard your health and the health of others, but also minimize your chances of losing your financial investment in the retreat.

Here’s what we’re asking from you

Before the retreat:

• Take extra precautions in the week leading up to the retreat. Mask in public settings. Avoid sick people and large gatherings.
• Commit to using a N95 or KN95 mask the entire time you’re utilizing any form of shared transportation (shuttles, airports, security lines, flights, trains, buses) while in route to the retreat.
• Let us know if you’ve exhibited any symptoms of illness or have been directly exposed to anyone with Covid or other communicable diseases in the week before departure.
• Pack a thermometer, fever reducing medication, four home Covid tests, and four N95 or KN95 masks with you in case there's an outbreak in the group.

On Retreat Protocol:

• Everyone will submit a home Covid test on the morning of the retreat, before arrival on site. In case of a positive result, you will not be able attend the retreat.
• Should you become ill, let one of the retreat leaders know. We will evaluate your condition and assess each situation as it arises. We will assist you in accessing medical care as needed.
• If you show signs of infectious disease, you will need to isolate from the group to prevent further spread of infection. We’ll also ask you to take a Covid test.
• We will inform the group about any contagious illness in our group.
• If you are sick and need to isolate, we’ll support you in finding suitable housing and transportation. If we can’t find nearby accommodations where you can isolate, you may need to leave the retreat early.
• If you plan on making a travel insurance claim to cover illness-related expenses, it is essential that you see a medical doctor and get proper documentation to support your claim while still in the Santa Cruz area. This paperwork will be required by your travel insurance company. Likewise, if you incur additional out-of-pocket costs for housing, meals, or transportation, be sure to keep a running log and get receipts.
• The Writer’s Journey will not provide refunds or expense reimbursement to those unable to take part in activities due to illness or contagion. Additional expenses accrued for medical care, additional hotel rooms, taxis, or other costs associated with your illness will be your responsibility.
• If an outbreak involves multiple participants, our goal will be to keep the retreat going whenever possible.

Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance is recommended for this retreat. You can purchase it whether you drive or fly to the retreat. Be sure to read the fine print on any policy you buy so you know whether (and to what degree) your insurance will cover a Covid-related cancellation. As of October 2023, Travel Insured treats Covid like any other illness. But please do your own due diligence.

If you want pre-existing conditions covered, most insurance companies require that you purchase insurance within ten days or two weeks of paying your initial deposit.

If you can’t join our retreat or need to leave early due to illness or injury, trip cancellation insurance will be your only recourse to recoup your travel investment. The Writer’s Journey will not provide refunds should you need to cancel, regardless of the reason, beyond the refund policy outlined in our graduated cancellation policy.

We will stay current with changing circumstances and may amend these guidelines in response to conditions that arise.

Please contact Laura at lauradavis@lauradavis.net if you have questions.

By registering for this workshop, you hereby accept all of the terms and conditions presented here.

Revised: December 3, 2025