Transcription
So, which one do you guys want first? The good news or the bad news?
In yesterday's video, I told you I have a major announcement about the channel. And this is it. And there's bad news and there's good news. So, let's see. What shall we start with? Let's start with the bad news. Let's get it out. Let's get it out of the way.
As you guys have probably noticed, uh, I haven't been doing the videos, uh, took a couple weeks off. And I mean, it was time after over 200 videos of just filming, filming, filming left and right. I found myself in a position where I needed a little bit of rest. And while I totally enjoy doing the videos, getting into town, sharing everything that I can about Wanauato, my life, Neesto's, you know, life, our life together. Uh there there's times where we need to regroup and reflect and reset, and I feel like that's what we've done in the past couple of weeks.
But what actually started it or kind of the catalyst towards it was I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and you know it was just mentioned that while watching some of my videos there was kind of like a lack of joy in my videos. And at first my reaction was like what? How dare you? How dare you? What do you mean? I love what I do. But as I started sitting with it and thinking more and reflecting on it, I realized maybe they were right. Maybe um maybe I wasn't having as much fun with the content that I was creating as I did when I first started. And so I've taken the last two weeks to really think about what I want to share on this channel. And don't worry, it's it I'm not changing, you know, so much. Uh I'm just going to be adding a little bit more about the other parts of my life that were um you know, that I'm interested in sharing.
About the bad news out of all of this. But I realized one of the things that was causing a lot of stress and just overwhelm and taking up a lot of time. Again, while I love doing it, um I realized that the private retreats that we were holding needed to go through some changes. And one of those changes is that for now we're going to pause private retreats in our home and the Wanauato immersion uh inviting uh people into our home and spending time with us for a week and sometimes even longer than that is paused. Um, we are going to finish out uh all of the private retreats that we've booked and we're still very excited to to um welcome our guests. But that's the decision that had to be made.
On the flip side, the good news about all of this is, are you guys ready? The good news about all of this is that we now have a team. Private retreats are out the door, but group retreats are now coming to a start. Starting February 2026, we're going to be doing group retreats for the Wanauato immersion. Imagine, well, you can imagine. Everyone that who's done the private retreat so far, if you're watching this, if you can chime in uh in the comments below, let us know how your experience went and what you think about us doing group retreats.
This is Nat. This is Jody. You guys have probably seen them in other videos. They are the housesitting experts and also crypto experts. Uh but uh one of the reasons why I invited them to join the team is well I can give you many reasons. One of them were very good friends. Uh the reason I'm in Wanowatau to begin with was because of these two ladies. Um, but also because a lot of times I'm asked about housesitting uh or the topic of housesitting comes up in our conversations when retreats are here because it's another way to explore to see other parts of the world and save money and, you know, not spend so much of the retirement on accommodations. And these ladies have a wealth of information regarding um housesitting. And we're going to be including talks about housesitting in the group retreats.
Something that we have not been able to do in the private retreats is have like a like a basic structure of how things go. Uh it's been more about going in the flow. And I think now with the help of Nat and Jody, we're gonna have more structure and we're going to get way more done. We're going to see a lot more things and experience a lot more uh and learn learn a lot more and meet more people. There's just going to be three times more um of what we is normally experienced in a private retreat. So, anything you guys want to add?
>> No, we're super excited. These guys have known each other since 2008 >> and we've never actually worked together before. So, this is the first time we're actually doing this and so exciting. Uh, and I guess probably the biggest thing is we're not actually just going to focus in Centro and in Wanowato City. We're actually going to get out and start looking at different places.
>> We're going to have amazing wineries around Wanowato and San Miguel. So, it's going to be awesome.
>> We're going to have day trips. you're going to have you're going to get to experience San Miguel as well because we're always comparing San Miguel with Wanauato and we figured we might as well show them uh while they're here uh San Miguel and also Luta the hot springs and all kinds of activities planned but also the I think one of the best parts is we're going to help you one of the major changes between the private retreats and the group retreats is sadly you guys are no longer stay um stay staying in our home. Uh our home will be used for the communal um aspects of the group retreats where we'll be doing um little private events and dinners and meals, but at the end of the night, you guys will be going home to your own accommodations that these ladies are going to help you secure based on the criteria that you have, the neighborhoods that you prefer. This way it's a true immersion. You're going to experience Wanauato based on how you want to experience it when you have free time.
>> How do you >> Yeah. And I think the best part is uh coming together as a team as well. I mean there's been a lot on your shoulders um even with the corporate retreats. um you've been doing a lot like you and Neesto and you know Neesto is busy now and uh we can allow you to expand and do more because of our personal backgrounds as well. So like Nat is the logistics queen. Uh she used to actually run um teams in the Australian Federal Police um for all sorts of things. Uh so logistics is her thing which means we can expand. And my background is tourism and uh hospitality and accommodation management. So uh getting out there and and getting to see what it is we can offer you as well is sort of you know my joy and my skill set as well. So I love it.
>> Yeah. Plus we have a vehicle which is >> it makes things a little bit easier for you when we can just get out get out and about like even bringing you here to the vet to uh get Ellie's grooming done. We're currently just outside of the vet hanging out here right outside of the city at this coffee shop called Cafe Tacion uh where they have amazing coffee, great pastries and co-working spaces. Um who knew that places like this existed right outside of town and these are conversations that we'll have during our retreats as well because Centro was amazing but it's not for everybody. There are places right outside the city that you can also enjoy and thrive more.
Um that >> well we even lived in this area.
>> Yeah, we lived in this area for about 18 months. Um so it was a get a community um with only locals. We were like the only sort of standout people there.
>> When I say stand out as in we're bright white bright white. Um but yeah, it was amazing living out there and you know it's like real life here, you know. It's like living in the BBS. Um it's been really cool.
>> Yeah, it's cool.
>> Perfect. So, we turn a new chapter on the channel. We turn a new chapter on the retreat and we'll see how it goes. I think it'll be a way to serve the audience more. If you guys have any comments or ideas, write them down um in the comment section below and just let me know what you would like to see more of uh in these videos. I've got a camera. I've got some, you know, we've got a great network of people here, uh, and an amazing backdrop, an amazing city, a place that many people, many of our friends call home. And many of our past retreat attendees are planning to call home and coming back to. We've got actually two sets um returning uh in this month in October uh or next month in October coming back and they were uh past retreat guests uh and people making plans to come back and actually call Wanauhat home. We've got a really high success rate in that um what I mean by success rate is people who come here for the Wanowatau immersion are able to make a clear decision whether or not a place like Guanauato is a place to call home or not. uh it's either a hell yes or a clear no at the end of the experience. And we invite you to have that with us if you are seriously considering Wanauato as a place to call home or a place to visit and really understand the culture and all the ins and outs of being a local as local as one can be as as visitors of this land um and sharing our experiences with you.
So anyway guys, I hope you like this video. I hope you like the announcement. I hope that you weren't really like planning on coming and having a private experience because now that's no longer on the table, at least not for now. Um because we're really excited in having a larger group of you come visit. And and as my dad says in every family gathering, the more the marrier. With that said, hope you guys like this video. I'll see you in the next one. Bye-bye.
>> Bye.