Newbie Jitters!

Telefunken · Post by **Telefunken** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:04 pm

Okay okay I know I've been asking alot of questions lately, but I just want to make sure my first Burn goes smoothly! I've searched the boards and the extranet for info but I figure it's just better to ask and create a new topic.. *ducks* Anyway, my friend and I are getting everything ready this week to leave for the desert, and we were wondering what to bring.. i know that sounds like a dumb question, but we REALLY don't want to drive for 1600miles just to realize we forgot our (insert product name here). So basically we have a couple tents, a van, sleeping bags, a mattress... all the basic camping supplies.. what does everyone else suggest we bring.. don't be afraid to list it out in point form, as we just want to browse through and see what we have/need.

Also, both of us are Lamplighters and plan on showing up some time on the 29th... (we're driving from Sparks, NV) anyway, are cars allowed in the Lamplighters camp? Spots in the village are first come first serve, but as long as we show up around 1-2pm on the 29th do we stand a good chance at grabbing a spot?

Sorry for all the noob questions guys, I just wanna make this a good first Burn!

Thanks very much for the help!

-Darren

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:09 pm

Frankly, it's your first trip, so don't worry about it. Everyone will tell you what _they_ should bring, but not have a clue what _you_ should bring. Even you don't have a clue what you should bring. You'll find out after you get there. :-> Relax. Enjoy. Repeat.

For a list of places that tell you what you should bring, see
http://www.cieux.com/bm/things.html

For lists of other stuff you should bring, see
http://www.cieux.com/bm/BriefGuide.html
http://www.cieux.com/bm/2dTime.html

A great take on what NOT to bring:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/dorksGuide.html

Louise and I are in Hushville, which is on Ego on either 4:30 or 5:30 or somewhere. We'll have clothes out to give away on Wednesday through Saturday at 2:00 pm -- drop by and pick some stuff out and tell us how it's going.

Phil

Telefunken · Post by **Telefunken** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:30 pm

Thank you so much Phil! We will be sure to stop by your camp to say hello!

One more quick question.. are there paper maps available on the Playa, or should I just print off the .pdf?

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 6:45 pm

Well, don't sweat it too much. Really, all you need to do is think, "What do I NEED to survive" and "What do I WANT to bring to have a good time." The lists are good to help you not forget stuff you wouldn't have thought of. Even if you DO forget something, you'll be meeting people and they might have extras of whatever it is you forgotted.

As far as being new, jitters, blah blah blah -- don't sweat it.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:04 pm

are there paper maps available on the Playa, or should I just print off the .pdf?

You'll get a map when you arrive, but print one just to have a spare in the car where you know where it is.

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:10 pm

Welcome, Telefunken. I felt the same way before my burn last year. Somebody said to bring 2/3 of the food you think you will need and I think they were right. You can't bring too much water so gallon it up in Sparks.

For me it was the little things that provided comfort for me to roam. Camelback; chap stick; sunblock; dust masks; bike; gatorade; wide brim pith helmet; clothing in layers; head lamp for my noggin. Extras of these things are great gifts, especially if you do some art on them ahead of time to make them non-commerical.

If you attend Burning Man in 2006, which you know you will, you'll bring a much better idea of the toys you would want to have out there. For your first time, just go play and interact and see what comes of it. Comfort foods are great too. If your lover wants you to miss her, ask her to pre-cook, seal and freeze batches of your favorite meal that you can share with others as you profess your love for her (keeps you on the straight and narrow, don't you know). Oh, you can't beat cookies and ice cold milk when you return from a night of playa adventures.

Cheers,

-Jellyfish.

Gravity Mike · Post by **Gravity Mike** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:31 pm

Mister Jellyfish Mister wrote:For me it was the little things that provided comfort for me to roam. Camelback; chap stick; sunblock; dust masks; bike; gatorade; wide brim pith helmet; clothing in layers; head lamp for my noggin. Extras of these things are great gifts, especially if you do some art on them ahead of time to make them non-commerical.

-Jellyfish.

Good suggestions that keep me happy on the playa - but add sunglasses, and something to protect your eyes from dust storms too - and don't forget that you might need them in the dark. For 2 burns I happily wore these conform-to-your-eye-socket-held-on-with-elestics sunglasses, like I was climbing Everest (outdated style cheap from an Army surplus store). But last year, I was screwed when there were night time dust storms! This year I've added some chemical safety glasses to my survival kit. Lots of people use ski goggles.

I'm happy with bandanas, cowboy style, for inhalation dust control. I stopped bringing dust masks.

Gravity

ZaphodBurner · Post by **ZaphodBurner** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:52 pm

>I'm happy with bandanas, cowboy style, for inhalation dust control.

Me too. There aren't many places left in the world where you have a functional excuse to wear a cowboy hat and a bandana around your neck. BRC is the wild west. Live it up! Carpe bandana-um!

As to "Newbie Jitters"...LOL!

Is there ANYBODY who doesn't get jitters the week before leaving? Some call it jitters, some call it pre-burn anxiety, or compression, or plain ol' freaking-the-hell-out-'cause-you're-going-to-Burning-Man.

Last night one of our playa virgins said "I'm starting to get really nervous."

Said, "You should be. Everything is about to change."

*jitter*

-c

ZaphodBurner · Post by **ZaphodBurner** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:54 pm

>I'm happy with bandanas, cowboy style, for inhalation dust control.

Me too. There aren't many places left in the world where you have a functional excuse to wear a cowboy hat and a bandana around your neck. BRC is the wild west. Live it up! Carpe bandana-um!

As to "Newbie Jitters"...LOL!

Is there ANYBODY who doesn't get jitters the week before leaving? Some call it jitters, some call it pre-burn anxiety, or compression, or plain ol' freaking-the-hell-out-'cause-you're-going-to-Burning-Man.

Last night one of our playa virgins said "I'm starting to get really nervous."

Said, "You should be. Everything is about to change."

*jitter*

-c

gladeye · Post by **gladeye** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 3:43 pm

I'm with Zaphodburner. You don't need to be a newbie to get the pre Burning Man jitters! There are a lot of details to tend to, supplies to be procurred and ready, all kinds of logistics. It's also an emotional and psychological preparation that can give you the jitters. I know I'm in for a pretty intense emotional, physical, and spiritual(?) rollercoaster. The anticipitory stakes are high!

Silver 2 · Post by **Silver 2** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:26 pm

Jitters? oh yeah, my first year I flew but rented this big ass truck and bought all kinds of stuff. Last year I drove out and had the mid-sized suv packed. This year I am flying out with three bags, a carryon and sharing a mini-van out with two friends. Had my clothing bag just about full when I realized that I had better add some clothes to fly home in -- the elvis costume might be a bit worse for wear by then and I am not going through security in the utilikilt -- enough metal on that thing make a knife.

Oh, and the kid and I are packing up and moving to a new house next week -- guess who has no idea where his good headlamp, camelback sunshirt and misc. other things are.

Life is good, I'm going to Burning Man. For a while didn't think I was going to make it this year.

safetythird · Post by **safetythird** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 5:18 pm

Silver 2 wrote:Oh, and the kid and I are packing up and moving to a new house next week -- guess who has no idea where his good headlamp, camelback sunshirt and misc. other things are.

I don't feel alone anymore. We're technically homeless right now. All our belongings in 2 uhauls sitting outside our new place because it's not ready to move in yet. Hopefully be able to move in Monday then leave for BM Friday. Not a whole lot of time for unpacking .. then repacking.

Jittery? You better believe it. About the same as last year, our first, and we had been preparing since Feb.

Now where the hell is the box with our tickets in it?

S3