Another virgin from Nebraska. :)

[Katajojo]

I really want to go to Burning Man this year 2016. If I can't make it I definitely plan to go 2017. I'm trying to decide on which is the best route for me... to go to London or Burning Man. If I dont go to London I will go to burning man this year.

Maybe this is the forum or place to say this, maybe it isn't... but if this forum doesn't accept my strangeness, no forum will. I AM strange... well according to societal norms I am anyway. I used to be normal, an over achiever, the pride and joy of my family, you know the gist. Masters degree in biochemistry, music scholarship, you name it, I was your bona fide people pleaser. Then, let's just say, "life happened," and as a result I now have PTSD, and that tends to exhibit itself...in weirdness. Ohhhh what happened to the family over achiever ? Where did she go? Truthfully I have to say , "I don't know." But I would like to find her . My family has cast me to the wind, as they really have no room anymore for a non overachiever. But that is ok, because I have found that the wind is taking better care of me now than they ever did.

I have suffered now for years, but I am a free spirit, and a trusting bird by nature, and a give-you-the-shirt-off-my-back kind of soul. Well, a free bird bears no cage, real or imagined, and though the real cage is gone, the imagined one remains. Bad shit does in fact happen, and although the people of the Hills of Nebraska are the kindest souls you'll ever want to meet, their center of the world location tends to keep them very isolated from "worldly horrors." To such a degree that even the therapists I tried to hire; well their eyes just rolled into the back of their heads they haven't been exposed to such things. And God bless them for that. I hope they NEVER CHANGE. The world needs people like Tolkien's hobbits from the Shire, and Nebraska is as "Shire like" as youll ever find in the USA.

But like Frodo, I guess you really can't go home again after such events, and I need a place to go now where my story and my hurts wont shock anyone and where I can heal and just run free and scream if I need to; a place to pin my past to the wall, pray, then watch it burn. Poof...into the air. It's time to let go of the shit that plagues me. Only two places where I know in the world I could do that: Camden London has a great place and Burning Man seems to be as good a place as any I can think in the USA when all else has failed, to be ME and set my spirit free. Any thoughts?

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Elliot]

Hey Katajojo, welcome to ePlaya!
The first thought that comes to mind is that Burning Man has a structure called the Temple, where people often put things they want to say goodbye to. Then at the end of the event, the Temple is burned. This Burn is more solemn than the upbeat Man Burn the day before.

"Saying goodbye to" can be any sort of goodbye. A loving farewell to a departed friend, or a good-riddance to something else. As with most things at Burning Man, it is what you make it.

Oh... you just said this, didn't you?

Plenty of us are familiar with the bad shit than can happen in a human mind. I doubt you can out-weird many of us.

Me, I'm planning to add a Mental Health information station of some sort to our camp this year. There is definitely a need. And all this stigma crap needs to end.

I want to mention something I tell most non-Burners when BM comes up: Burning Man is not for everyone. But you seem to have a good start on figuring out whether BM is for you.

Carry on.

[Katajojo]

Thank you for your replies to my post. After reading numerous posts, the entire website, and watching most of the videos, I can officially say that Burning Man looks exactly like what I need. Your camps look amazing. Elliot, I read your webste, and I am a pianist and a Blues lover also! I have a blues music collection as well. If I don't go this year I'd be more than willing to loan it to you if you promised to send it back to me. Anything I can do for the cause. You have an amazing camp.

I guess even though I'm a first timer I would like to know what kinds of things to bring to share with others, as I would never want to come empty handed. I have various talents but not sure what could I do to be of use to the people of Burning Man? I play the piano, do a little chemistry, a little physics, crochet, cook, sing, belly dance, and I'm just an all around pleasant greeter and takercarer of people. I like to have fun. The sculptures seem amazing I wouldn't know where to begin on such a task. What could someone like me bring to give to others?

I do crochet Spirit Mandalas, but i could never have 70000 made by august. Hmmmmnow i KNOW ill be up all night thinking...

[Elliot]

I squirm a little when I read that you "need" Burning Man. (If there were no Burning Man, would you inevitably descend into an utterly dysfunctional existence the rest of your life? Of course not.)
But I certainly feel that participation in BM can lead to personal improvement. This is definitely the case with me.

Now I encourage you to keep reading and learning, and I bet you will discover that giving of yourself is far more valuable than any physical schwag a human could possibly create.

[Token]

You should go.

Take the step and overachive this year and go.

One rule:

Expect nothing and you will experience everything.

Then figure things out after that.

[Thecatman]

WELCOME!!

[gaminwench]

Elliot, sounds like your camp's got a potential pfluffer!
Say yes!

I'll train her, if you like.

Katajojo:
Give of yourself, not things.
You are enough.
wheeeeeee ...

[Savannah]

Thank you for your replies to my post. After reading numerous posts, the entire website, and watching most of the videos, I can officially say that Burning Man looks exactly like what I need. Your camps look amazing. Elliot, I read your webste, and I am a pianist and a Blues lover also! I have a blues music collection as well. If I don't go this year I'd be more than willing to loan it to you if you promised to send it back to me. Anything I can do for the cause. You have an amazing camp.

I guess even though I'm a first timer I would like to know what kinds of things to bring to share with others, as I would never want to come empty handed. I have various talents but not sure what could I do to be of use to the people of Burning Man? I play the piano, do a little chemistry, a little physics, crochet, cook, sing, belly dance, and I'm just an all around pleasant greeter and takercarer of people. I like to have fun. The sculptures seem amazing I wouldn't know where to begin on such a task. What could someone like me bring to give to others?

I do crochet Spirit Mandalas, but i could never have 70000 made by august. Hmmmmnow i KNOW ill be up all night thinking...

What can you bring to give to others? Well, spot a need and fill it if you can. You can do this on the fly. Just keep an eye out for opportunities.

Some of the best gifts are 1) Assistance, and 2) Company. Do you see someone who needs help? (You will at some point, guaranteed.) Do you see someone who needs company, or might like an invitation to something you're about to go do? If you're able, consider offering that.

Some others: sharing what you have when you can--invite the neighbors or passersby to come have a snack or a drink with you, or give a new lip balm or a travel size bottle of lotion to someone who clearly forgot theirs.

You need not gift en masse. There are limits to what a person can carry or afford.
You need not trade or barter.
You need not feel bad if someone gifts you suddenly and you have nothing to give back, besides a smile and a thank you.

If you want to gift something crafty, Burner jewelry is popular, especially with the symbol and year, but please don't feel you have to give them to everyone. Save them for your favorite connections.

You can also volunteer. Lamplighters is a good choice for first timers because it's a walk-up opportunity. You'll be happier if you don't over-commit your first year; a shift or two is often plenty!
http://burningman.org/event/volunteering/teams/

[TT120]

Welcome! You wont be even close to being the weirdest person out there.

[Drawingablank]

Welcome.

[Ratty]

Welcome to ePlaya.

[Semicola]

As a fellow virgin from Nebraska, I just wanted to say I hope you have a great burn! See you in the dust!

[Katajojo]

YAY! I got my ticket! OMG IM GOING TO BURNING MAN! Im pumped! No, im so past pumped that the light from pumped will take a million years to reach me!

Ok, now im a bit scared. What to bring what to bring. Already crocheting BM bracelets to give. And give of myself? Oh that I can do. Help build, help carry, be a gopher...i LOVE doing that. What supplies to bring? Yes ill check the first timers guide. Any extra supplies that people usually run out of that might come in handy? I use to teach first aid for the red cross, so....first aid supplies or do they usually have those. Ill still bring some...my closet looks like a walgreens.

[Katajojo]

Welcome! You wont be even close to being the weirdest person out there.

LOL You might wanna wait to say that until after youve met me.

[ZigZag]

FWIW from another Birgin: I'd rather be weird than boring.

I don't view BM or anything as an end that will fix all anything, after all its just a camping trip in a place where nature is trying to kill you . I view it as part of an amazing journey away from what I used to be. That journey started some time ago when the over-achiever complex nearly killed me. As I transition from what I was to who I am, I have found that I am attracted to cultures that embrace radical acceptance and self expression.

I found it in my yoga community and I have found it in the Burning Man community. This part of my journey began for real when I got the ticket. Now everyday is filled with research, communication, meeting people, making new friends and preparing. As they say: Your burn begins before you hit the playa, do at least one thing each day that gets you closer to being ready. I do not under-estimate the challenge of BM in anyway. Its a dangerous place and I plan to be self reliant and be a real contributing member of this community.

That is the pathway (in my mind) to get the most from this opportunity. As many here say: Be as prepared as you can be and expect nothing.

There are some wise (sometimes wise-assed) people here on ePlaya and they have given me good advice. Can't wait to meet them, and you, in person.

[Papa Bear]

Congrats on getting that ticket.

First and foremost, take care of yourself. There are med stations, but everyone out there should have a quality first aid kit - and if yours is big enough to help out the neighbor who needs something, so much the better.

Savannah's gifting advice is right on, IMO. No need to worry about giving out objects. Some of the best experiences I've had on the playa came from simply going out for a walk, looking for someone who looked like they could use an extra hand, and offering whatever help I could. Quite a few service-oriented theme camps welcome both walk-in and pre-arranged volunteers, too. Even if they're not actively advertising for help, if you happen upon one whose gift speaks to you, then by all means ask.

In terms of things you can carry with you to be ready to help out a random person in need, some good options (in no particular order) are first aid supplies, a small travel sewing kit, extra sunscreen, cheap foam earplugs, hard candy, packets of electrolyte drink powder, duct tape, paracord, single-ply toilet paper, tampons, Altoid tins (aka ashtrays), and a good multitool. Just don't feel like you need to haul *all* of that around.

[Elliot]

Woohoo! Congrats! And all that Stuff!

[Katajojo]

In terms of things you can carry with you to be ready to help out a random person in need, some good options (in no particular order) are first aid supplies, a small travel sewing kit, extra sunscreen, cheap foam earplugs, hard candy, packets of electrolyte drink powder, duct tape, paracord, single-ply toilet paper, tampons, Altoid tins (aka ashtrays), and a good multitool. Just don't feel like you need to haul *all* of that around.

OMG i have all those things. Well, not parachord. Ive over 1000 earplugs, and as a biochemist i use to MAKE electrolyte powders for infant recovery, which are far superior to gatorade. I still make that for myself and private weight lifters...only the adult version. I make them in flavors the number of the rainbow. I also make homemade 100% UVA UVB UVC sunblock. Can i bring those? Or does it have to be Gatorade, (which is weak at best and minimal for desert recovery.) Omg maybe that will be my camp theme, or do i need a food license?

[Papa Bear]

It doesn't "need" to be anything, including Gatorade. Bring the gift you want to give.

That said, based on the information here, and assuming said electrolyte powder is classified as food (which seems logical), you probably do need a food permit.

Even so, it seems far less likely that you'd run into trouble if you're just offering it to new friends you've met, rather than setting it up as the theme of your camp... but others here would know better, I've never offered food and drink as a gift outside of my immediate campmates.

Of course, law enforcement might also get curious about someone handing out packets of powder to people on the street, but they're probably not going to be wondering if you have a food permit.

There have been camps gifting sunscreen in the past. Not sure if any of it was homemade, but I'd still bet you'd find people to take you up on it.

[Elliot]

Katajojo... I'm kind'a partial to mother nature's own sunburn protection, which I call "a base tan", which I start on in March.
But I think we have some campers who may need your sunblock concoction when they bare a cheek or two that has not been bared much.

As for Gatorade... somebody told me I'm doing it right by mixing Gatorade about half-n-half with water. Well, we can study this more closely later -- when I have not had too much wine with my dinner. (Yes, very late dinner.)

Remind me to tell you my recipe for drinking beer on Playa. (It involves water.)

Another story to ask me about is the time when a dermatologist came in for bicycle repair.

Good night.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[ZigZag]

I would totally be interested in your concoction for sunblock. I''m a redhead (that's more grey than red) from Minnesota where we keep skin covered 85% of the year. I figure being covered in playa dust will offer my pasty white skin some protection?

I've had enough skin cancers removed and don't want to grow any more than I have to so sunblock and me are going to be good friends.