OlioHouse of Worship: Congregation in Absurd Times
Ten years ago, we held the very first Olio in David’s living room on the topic of Bokononism — the fictional religion from Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. It was fitting, since one of Bokononism’s core beliefs is the idea of a karass — a group of people unknowingly bound together by a shared purpose. That’s exactly what building this community has felt like over the past decade.
This summer, we’re inviting everyone who’s been part of our karass to leave the city behind for a weekend of glamping, relaxing, and — in classic Olio fashion — co-creating a playful, heartfelt version of what a religion could be.
We’re not here for dogma, judgment, or righteousness. We’re here to explore how people make meaning together — especially in absurd times. The word “religion” comes from the Latin religare, meaning “to reconnect.” At its root, religion is about restoring connection — with each other, with the world, and with something bigger than ourselves.
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re throwing ourselves a very Olio kind of party: a weekend filled with workshops, performances, skill shares, late-night games, nature walks (and swims), deep conversation, and joy — all culminating in a co-created Sunday ceremony of our own design.
Over the weekend, we’ll explore questions like:
What makes a gathering feel meaningful?
Why do people return to religion, even after walking away?
What rituals, ethics, or stories are worth keeping — or rewriting?
What draws people to communes, cults, and religions, even knowing the risks?
Through lectures, discussions, collaborative workshops, and spontaneous late-night talks, we’ll build toward a final shared experience: a Sunday gathering shaped entirely by the people who show up and what they choose to offer each other.
Come as you are. You don’t have to perform or believe anything. Just bring your curiosity — and a willingness to have a good time.
What’s Included:
Two nights of lodging (choose from yurts, cabins, or private rooms)
All meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast
Workshops, discussions, and creative time with Olio facilitators
A secluded retreat center with a sauna, waterfall, and trails
Transportation from the New Paltz Bus Station (available upon request)
You’ll stay in cozy glamping tents, classy A-frame cabins, or private rooms in the artist’s studio. For the first time ever, we've booked an actual retreat center. A place, we actually stayed more than 8 years ago when it was just a seed of an idea. It's now blossomed into a full-on creative sanctuary — and we’re taking it over for a weekend.
Let’s celebrate a decade of ideas, friendship, and what happens when curious people get together.
Love,
Chris & David