preparation stress

[Voyage]

everything you need to know about preparations, except how to keep sane in the face of insanity !

i've been pre-burning all month, this is my second year and i'm about to melt down. at this point, it's fight, scratch and crawl my way to saturday morning departure. 75% of my stuff is going undone, cause i can't get people to leave me alone so i can work.
it was fun, now it's just trudging.

i know. take a deep breath, it'll all happen. right?

[BoyScoutGirl]

Relax a moment. Take a deep breath. It will happen.

Maybe now would be a good time to prioritize. Having shelter ready is more important than having tutus organized, etc. All of it's probably more important than posting in eplaya, but if you need it, we have a panicking thread just for such posts

Have a good burn!

[BBadger]

In the end you'll go anyway, most of the stuff you prepped won't matter or will be overcompensated, and after the event you'll tell yourself that you'll be more prepared -- but repeat the cycle anyway.

[VampireKitten]

I'm right there with you, but as soon as I got the roof rack working for the bikes I felt a lot better and I'm not even finished packing! No stress, this is supposed to be fun. Even if you don't get everything finished.

[knowmad]

Panic is an unkind spectator sport.

[theCryptofishist]

Sumo Cuddle Pile is a kind sport.

[pink]

I thought I was going to stroke out yesterday I was so stressed. Tears to freak out to exhaustion to calm & back again. Now I'm packed except for a few items in the fridge & need a shower. Relaxing because its rush hour and I figure I might as well wait til 6 to hit the road.

[tatonka]

[media]

[zorro sings]

This post illustrates why the most experienced make it a 51 week effort to prepare.A little here,a little there be it in October or May.

[ChrissyP]

add tequila, it helps....... suddenly, mid-frenzy, it drops to resignation......... you will forget something important, and you will have way too much of some thing else.....whatever. Just do your best..... I was so grateful last weekend when even that resignation passed, and I was left with the knowing that soon all my worries will be purged by the blessed flames! Smiling, sipping and smoking, it's gonna be what it's gonna be, and it will be grand!

The thing I'm learning this year is to let folks help.... they may not do it the way I would....... but, if they do it, I don't have to! I'm even getting to the place that I have enough grace to not re-do whatever it was when they can see........ I had to go to the ER last week with chest pains..... waited 5 days thinking I was having a heart attack......... only to find that I've pulled a muscle deep in the left side of my chest....... whatever. you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.

I am letting others help me and I am grateful. Last evening, my sister sat for most of two hours unpackaging stuff, adding batteries, etc... for me. She's not even going, but is house/dog sitting for us. That freed me up to sort and refine the decorations bin... this morning, I tested the hot shower system that I was loaned as a gift! Woohah! Hot showers in my house at HOME! I am totally thrilled.

My structure this year? 20' x 64', deep shade (and rain coverage), carpets, power, hot water, etc... the structures were set up, double checked that all the parts were where they needed to be, taken down, repacked and loaded.... 2 weeks ago. carpets cleaned (again) after a party on the 3rd of this month. I clean everything before it goes, depackage everything to reduce my MOOP factor, and to make sure that all the parts are where they should be and everything works... solar is charging, batteries are charging....

The venison stew I pre-made and froze? The effing container split and ruined my food. Now, I am hoping to have the rest of it done so that I can put some food together on Saturday..... if not, I'll just have to work a little harder on-playa to feed my family..... it is what it is.....

It's a process man, the packing, planning, procuring, etc... that is a huge part of this whole thing in the desert at least to me.... indulge in your favorite adult beverage and have fun with it!

[pink]

Fuck, I puts the key I. The ignition and....nothing. Sitting on my battery charger, waiting for engine boost to boost enough. Good thing I won't have to stop for miles & miles...-at least on e I get it to turn over. And as I was leaving the news was reporting a big storm on I-80 in truckee this afternoon.

[pink]

Yay, got to Reno, nice room at the Sands. Thing I forgot: my camelback. And that's where my clear goggles are. Not as bad as it could be though.