Currently I have a group of family, mostly consisting of cousins, on my father's side that want to get together for a sort of family reunion. This is a fairly good idea to get together with people that have similar backgrounds, sense of humors, and memories of the past together. The plan is to meet up in Southern California and go to Disneyland, which we have done before years ago, but this time it has been suggested that we all rent a house together. The group house is really the main issue for me, and I have no intention to take part of the group home.
It seems to me that with families similar to mine it would be better suited renting a house, or rather a special compound built specifically for such gatherings; preferably located in an isolated area far from civilization or at least away from peace loving people or creatures that may become excited by the sounds of mayhem and/or violence. Otherwise passersby or anyone within earshot may misconstrue our assemblage as a halfway-house for the chronically belligerent. The idea is to allow the occupants of the compound to immerse themselves in one another's company and all the emotional baggage they individually bring with them in a sort of ruff and tumble cluster of sharing. Every evening the optimal experience will result in the occupants participating in an impromptu 'Primal Scream' session, which will require a lot of pointless yelling and shouting; although I'm sure some people will actually try in vain to resolve some issues during this time, and honestly why not? It should be stated that endless screaming between people will not resolve problems and/or issues and is pointless as a way of communication. The end result of the 'Primal Scream' should ultimately be to produce a state of extreme exhaustion and calm; some may feel like an ancient itch has just been scratched. It should be clear by now why isolation is key.
I envision the best sort of compound would have a lot of padded walls, doors, and unbreakable dishes; much like a insane asylum...but different. It seems like a compound for the highly charged family there would be a need for healthy physical activity and to this end I imagine a foamy amalgamation wonderland modeled after the obstacle courses of 'American Gladiator', 'Wipe out', 'Double Dare', and for those type-A nut jobs that have to win at everything a 'Ninja Warrior' elimination competition; "there can only be one!".
With any family reunion I think the main point is to come away with a more fulfilled sense of self, as well as establish a stronger function of family; or at least maintain the relationship. I can agree with these sentiments, yet to paraphrase Xun Zi 'pride and excess bring disaster', and also I'd like to point out the wisdom that even other sharks are at risk of attack in a swarm of other sharks once blood is in the water; the trick to shark diving I suspect is similar to managing radiation exposure: Time, distance, and shielding. I like the idea that if I was ever wealthy I would add a contingency to my last will and testament that would require a select group of "preferred" family members to spend a month together in a vacation home to determine what inheritance they would receive. The first person to leave before the month ends would receive the least, and the last person to survive would receive the most but the overwhelming holdings would then be given to a charity of my selection; yet if the group could stick out the whole month together the participants would be given equal shares of a huge award, which would be larger than what the 'winner' would have received in the elimination scenario thus reinforcing the idea that a family unified is stronger and better off.
