Sober on the Playa

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sun May 17, 2009 9:32 pm

burningrawhide wrote:Hey family

I'm a veteran burner going back to the playa clean and sober for the first time this year (took a 4 year hiatus while getting my life back on track).

Does anyone know of any sober camps or cool sober people or 12 step meetings on the playa? I'm looking to get some support and connect with people who might be on a similar path.

Thank you!!!!!

Rawhide

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=9047

Hey Rawhide.
Been doing the burn sober for 11 years. Look at the link. Lots of great info.

burningrawhide · Post by **burningrawhide** » Sun May 17, 2009 10:02 pm

[quote="unjonharley"]Welcome home to Black Rock City has an extra meaning to us that come home to be sober on the playa[/quote]

I love this! I look forward to hitting my first experience clean on the playa after years of insane abuse. I will have 2 years clean by the time I hit the playa this year but it's been 4 years since I've been back 'home'. I am excited and a little scared...but your words encourage me!

Thanks!

Rawhide

darren y · Post by **darren y** » Mon May 18, 2009 1:26 am

Mr. Mister here, find Vamp Camp [usually somewhere between 7-9:30, & back a few streets from the espinade] white school bus that says Mr. Mister on the side next to a big misting canopy.
Anyway I've got over 5,000 days [all in a row!!] clean & sober, 4 burns & many others of lifes hurdles...
everday from noon-sunset I should be hanging out running the Mister, come by cool off & we can shoot the bull, we've had several little mini meetings right there, be careful @ night 'cuz my camp also has a bar very close to the mister.

BurningMando · Post by **BurningMando** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:55 am

I'm finding this thread very comforting, as this'll be my first Burn. I've been drug and alcohol free for well over a decade, and was wondering if I'd be the only burner not using - guess not!

I've been thinking about wording recently, as I don't personally like the word "sober". Looking at the definition of "sober" from dictionary.com (below), I'm about as far from points 3-8 as one can be!

1. not intoxicated or drunk.
2. habitually temperate, esp. in the use of liquor.
3. quiet or sedate in demeanor, as persons.
4. marked by seriousness, gravity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor, speech, etc.: a sober occasion.
5. subdued in tone, as color; not gay or showy, as clothes.
6. free from excess, extravagance, or exaggeration: sober facts.
7. showing self-control: sober restraint.
8. sane or rational: a sober solution to the problem.

I've used "drug and alcohol free" for a while now, but that seems clunky.

Then there's what to say when people offer you stuff. My usual response is a cheerful "No thanks!". Sometimes, however, people can be a bit insistent when offering stuff. I've recently started saying "I'm not doing drugs or alcohol right now", which seems to mollify most people. It's very non-judgmental, while also having a connotation that this is a personal choice about right now, not a lifestyle - nothing for anyone to be offended/intimidated/worried about.

See you all at a meeting or two on the Playa!

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue May 26, 2009 11:36 am

Don't miss Hokey Pokey camp - they are just the living BEST.........

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 5:52 pm

For people interested in 12 step camps check out
http://www.burnanon.org/
Marian

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:40 pm

white knuckeled it through another year.

jonB Salem, Or.6/22/62

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:09 pm

unjonharley wrote:white knuckeled it through another year.

jonB Salem, Or.6/22/62

[youtube][/youtube]

Monkeypoo · Post by **Monkeypoo** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:48 pm

BTW, IBD....Happy Happy Happy Freaking Anniversary/Birthday/Milestone!!! Love ya!!!

Monkeypoo · Post by **Monkeypoo** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:12 pm

oops. I meant BBD.

hugs!

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 11:41 am

Happy Birthday Unjon!!!!!

You're a hero!

LEVLHED · Post by **LEVLHED** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:11 am

BurningMando wrote:I'm finding this thread very comforting, as this'll be my first Burn. I've been drug and alcohol free for well over a decade, and was wondering if I'd be the only burner not using - guess not!

I've been thinking about wording recently, as I don't personally like the word "sober"..... I've used "drug and alcohol free" for a while now, but that seems clunky.

In NA we just say "clean", we don't actually differentiate between alcohol and drugs.

(one of two CLEAN burners --so far anyway, looking for a #3!!-- driving from Wisconsin Kettle Moraine Area)

darren y · Post by **darren y** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:42 am

is really doesn't matter how ya word it,
I'm certainly not out there to trying to impress anyone,
life is my choice, I enjoy & wish to continue in a conscious state of mind.
I think of all the beautiful things I've seen @ previous burns that i would have missed if I was all fucked up...

yesterday's gone, tomorrow is a dream, but
just for today I choose not to use!!

LEVLHED · Post by **LEVLHED** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:35 pm

IF you keep one foot in yesterday and one foot tomorrow you piss all over today.

(Kettle Moraine Area is now rolling 3 deep)

darren y · Post by **darren y** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:41 pm

[quote="LEVLHED"]IF you keep one foot in yesterday and one foot tomorrow you piss all over today.quote]

So true...

Marvo · Post by **Marvo** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:31 am

OK Hokey Pokey Camp this year is in the 3 o'clock Portal. Meeting everyday at 5 starting on opening day. Stella camp has meetings and Anonymous Camp. Hokey Pokey Camp is a Clean and Sober camp open 24 hours a day. Come by and hang out if you need to get away from it all or just say hello. This is your camp that's why we are here. If you want to turn yourself around come dance the Hokey Pokey with us at noon. I'm on this computer until the 14th then start for burningman if you need info [email protected] Peace Marvo

Red Dirt Mother · Post by **Red Dirt Mother** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:04 am

[quote="Driveway"]"Hey...listen, I'm going to this totally insane party out in the desert with 'bout thirty-five thousand total nut-jobs who're gonna pound themselves into mental, physical, spiritual, and metaphorical jell-o....and I was just wondering if there would be any AA meetings?"

"Yes, several each day."

I fucking love love love love this shit.[/quote]

Totally!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:04 pm

Looking back to see.

Before I found recovery, I was always looking back to see, what was coming after me..

On the run there was plenty to for me.
Looking back to see, If they were looking back at me.

On the run building an attitude of rightest indignation. All about who was looking back at me.

The cops kicked my ass against every wall in the cop shop.. I was on the run and looking back to see if they were looking back at me. They did there job as the normal people asked them to. F..in assholes every one of em asking me to pee..

Takes a lot of stress to maintain an attitude. How dare they treat me to a cell?

Then come the judge looking at me. He was looking back at my pee. Gave me three.. More attitude more stress.

Looking back to see if the cops and judge were looking back at me. It was the P O that wanted my pee.. Fuck him looking back at me!

Then I found recovery, my stress based attitude was still looking back to see.

This stress and fear attitude could take my recovery any day. I wasn't on a run. But I was still looking back to see. Sure enough there was a cop looking back at me.. He was attracted to my looking back to see and looked right back at me.

After he asked me for my pee.. I run to my sponsor. Told him the cops were always looking back at me.

My sponsor asked why I was looking back to see? "is"? something after me??

Some good hard ass inventory about looking back at my attitude,

All the hate I carried around for the "man" was on me. Those guy didn't feel a thing I was projecting. Sept if they noticed me looking back to see. Then they were going to look right back at me..

Sponser suggested I give up the stress and "keep my recovery"

Took it to the man up stairs. He sure as hell didn't want the mess. So I dumped it along the way on my recovery run.

Now, on the playa. I don't look back to see if the law is looking back to see if I'm looking back to see. because I'm free in recovery. That way they wont be looking for my PEE.

Inventory your attitude before you leave the house. Don't need to be looking back to see. What coming after me.. The only run I'm on it my recovery.

jonB 6/22/62

p.s. Friend Steve of salem calls it: Living in your rear view mirror.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:49 pm

I haven't checked into this thread in while. 15 years for me last April. "No thank you" is a great response when someone offers you a drink or whatever. All the work and worry I have put into what my best reply should be When they say "Why not?" I never really found it. "I don't feel like it." is good. Sometimes I don't feel like working through the dance, and I think the person I am talking to will just hear this and then we'll move on, I say what we say when we introduce ourselves in meetings. Yeah, that's a good reason to refuse a drink isn't it? I don't worry anymore about what anyone else does. I like to laugh and goof around, but If a situation makes me uncomfortable, I leave. If you really think about it, it is the most amazing fun interesting place to be sober. So much stimulus, colors, sounds. I walk upright, with full awareness, no worries about crossing over the line to too much, no searching for more, no regrets. I feel good in the morning.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:58 pm

Just say it slows you down.
More energy, more burn.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:22 pm

gyre wrote:Just say it slows you down.
More energy, more burn.

when i first come into recovery. people would offer me shit. when i said no they would insist. then i would have say a full sentance that ment the same thing as "no"

found out i was projecting "Ah No". had to deside if i was going to be on the recovery wagon or in it. just being on the recovery wagon ment i could fall off any time there was a bump in the road. so i got into recovery where it was safe...

from then on when i said no it was a full sentance in it's self. people didn't hear anymore "ah no" from me. and i stay out of slippery places.

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:06 pm

Just a couple doors down from my friend Marv at Hokey Pokey, you can often find me in our camp, Destiny Lounge. We serve non alcoholic lemonade and ice tea each afternoon and I will be enjoying this burn with over 23 years sobriety behind me. If you need a sober ear, seek me out!

Woof!

Doggy Dave

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:15 am

bump

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:15 pm

unjonharley wrote: bump

good bump

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:35 pm

6/22/62

jonB Salem Or.

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Mon Jun 21, 2010 8:42 pm

You gentlemen are inspiring.

An interesting link -
http://www.spiritualriver.com/how-to-st ... ual-guide/

Sanddog42 · Post by **Sanddog42** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:29 pm

Come to Camp Stella in Avalon Village at 7:30 and Detroit.

bigbluedoggy · Post by **bigbluedoggy** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:43 pm

Monkeypoo wrote:oops. I meant BBD.

hugs!

Aww thanks,Monkeypoo! Sorry, I haven't visited this thread in a bit... oopsy!

June 20 marked 24 years for me. Thanks for remembering!

*edit* OK. so I didn't look close enough and her post was from last year... lol! oops again! Still just a ditsy blond, I guess!

Sanddog42 · Post by **Sanddog42** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:04 pm

Less than a week away and my brain is turning against me.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:22 pm

Sanddog42 wrote: Less than a week away and my brain is turning against me.

Meeting on line..Speak up

Sober on the Playa

Re: Sober on the Playa

Very comforting!

Anonymous Meetings at Burning Man

Re: Very comforting!

Open AA Meetings Daily at 3PM