Should I go to burning man?

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:56 pm

6000 miles one way to get to BRC? I wish that was the only obstacle I had in my way to get there. I'd trade you in the blink of an eye.

After going back and reading the thread, to answer your original question I'd say Absolutely YES! And I would move heaven and earth and do whatever it takes to pull it off. This is one case where the end fully justifies the means.

Captain Goddammit's post is very true, be prepared as best you can for anything but the times I rolled into BRC on the equivalent of a wing and a prayer turned out to be the best years I attended. I won't ramble on except to say good luck and I hope you find a way to get there.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:01 am

yeah, 6000 miles...I definitely think you will get there faster then the 13 yrs it took me to get there!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:19 am

Dust storms, free bars, radical self-reliance, flagrant nudititty. Scared yet?

zachass · Post by **zachass** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:28 am

the more nudititty the better.

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:32 am

After a few days the nudity is fragrant

curiousgnate · Post by **curiousgnate** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:07 pm

fragrant nudity, very nicely put!

freeDOOM · Post by **freeDOOM** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:16 pm

Kinetic V wrote:6000 miles one way to get to BRC? I wish that was the only obstacle I had in my way to get there. I'd trade you in the blink of an eye.

After going back and reading the thread, to answer your original question I'd say Absolutely YES! And I would move heaven and earth and do whatever it takes to pull it off. This is one case where the end fully justifies the means.

Captain Goddammit's post is very true, be prepared as best you can for anything but the times I rolled into BRC on the equivalent of a wing and a prayer turned out to be the best years I attended. I won't ramble on except to say good luck and I hope you find a way to get there.

Thats not all though.

I'll only have just turned 18 and I'm wondering if that maybe too young for it all.

Also I would be alone.

BTW it's about 3,000 miles each way.

Post by **Sham** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:09 pm

Not all 18 years olds are mature enough for an adventure like this. Some are still living at home and having mom do everything for them and others are older and wiser than their years. Only you can decide if you are ready for this.
When you arrive in BRC, you will find that it's nothing like you are imaging. You will find friendly neighborly people who can assist you with things and give you some guidance. They may even be the same age as your parents, but cooler!
Your question is about attending is a good one, but YOU are the one to actually make the determination.
By the way, are you male or female. I ask because a male 18 years old may have an easier time crossing the country. But that's not always the case.
Again, what do you think? Should you go to Burning Man?

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:34 pm

Suck it up newbie. In a few years you'll 50 and prohibited from coming to the event at all.

freeDOOM · Post by **freeDOOM** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:14 pm

I see what you're saying Shambala. It's ultimately how I see myself and if I'd be capable of the adventure. I also feel like it could be a very wising experience.

I'm a male btw.

Post by **Sham** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:21 pm

freeDOOM wrote:I see what you're saying Shambala. It's ultimately how I see myself and if I'd be capable of the adventure. I also feel like it could be a very wising experience.

I really hope that other young first timers are reading and learning from your thread. I have found this event to be an amazing life changing experience. There is such a tiny percentage of the population that has the guts to head off to BRC and be part of this place. Most people are white-bread, unimaginative people who can only attend pre-planned, pre-portioned, predicatable vacations. Disney World does very well.

If you continue to read and search on the web, you may find that this is the place for you. It will not last forever, and once it's gone, there will only be images and stories to share.

I hope that the responses have been helpful to you and if you get to make it out this year, I'm sure you will start planning on coming back again.

freeDOOM · Post by **freeDOOM** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:55 am

The responses that I've gotten has helped me to decide greatly.

Thanks everyone.

I think I might just get a ticket in January and plan to attend. If worse comes to worst I'll end up selling it. Which I probably won't do but it'd be nice to know I could.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 8:11 am

At 18, for me, Burning Man by myself would have been... how you say? fucking disastrous. Self reliance for me at that time was something I had no experience with yet. I would have come back with a broken compass for how to become an adult, and no support group for how to deal with the outrageous number of options for the world I had been exposed to. Without the support of some grounded mentors, I think it could be like being set adrift in a fantasy world. I would have preferred it to what I was faced with the other 51 weeks of the year.

My first year, I camped next to a 19 yr. old fellow on his own. He was an amazing person, with a good job, good school going on, and solid solo camping skills. He wasn't running away from anything. He had a good foundation to return to, was mainly sober, and not crazy with freedom. He was wild with the opportunity to talk about his art and inventions and Burning Man may have been the first place he'd been where people listened and valued what he was talking about. Perfect for him to encourage him to keep creating that way. It depends on the individual. I just want to say that IMHO Burning Man is an adult portion.

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:00 pm

At 18 I was already doing solo long range trips from KC to Dallas, Chicago, etc so making the stretch to BRC would have been easy. The key is having a reliable vehicle, planning ahead to have basic supplies to cover emergencies, and after that you just gotta point the car in the direction you want to go and just do it. Plug in the MP3 player and next thing you know you'll be on 447 looking at the playa.

The fact that you took the time to dig around here and ask for feedback has me thinking you will be able to pull this off. Seriously, there's not a "right" age to do something like this. I've found that when I take on long trips, when I push my comfort zone just a bit I end up having the time of my life. My advice comes back to do your planning and just make it happen.

And in this case, when it comes to Burning Man, I'll say it again. The end fully justifies the means. When I made my first trip in 2002 I wondered if it would be worth it. The online stuff looked good, I scoured the eplaya and other resources but finally I just decided to do it. It turned out to be the second best thing to happen to me...the birth of my son here shortly is the only reason Burning Man got bumped to second place. I know...I'm running long here but again, if you can do it, do it. I have yet to meet anyone that has not been changed by the Burning Man experience. Heck even the drive out there, crossing the mountains, the long sweeping views on I-80 where you can see for 100 miles on a clear day....the whole experience will change you. GO. JUST GO!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:09 pm

freeDOOM wrote:I think I might just get a ticket in January and plan to attend. If worse comes to worst I'll end up selling it. Which I probably won't do but it'd be nice to know I could.

The first step is indeed getting the ticket. After that, things seem to have a way of falling into place, not by magic, but by the simple fact that youâ€™ve made that commitment in your mind and then work toward it. And, as you have noted, you can always sell the ticket later in the year if things donâ€™t work out on the first try.

I started off the first year I attended as a solo participant comfortable with going alone. By the time I was heading west in August, I had met a fellow who would become my best friend and he introduced me that same year to the lady who is now my wife. Not saying this will happen to you, just saying that you should plan to go alone and be open to what ever you may find along the way.

freeDOOM · Post by **freeDOOM** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 9:18 pm

That's it. I'm going. I'll pull my sh*t together and make it happen.

Kinetic V and LeChatNoir pushed me over.

Thank you all!!!

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:14 pm

Rememberâ€¦

No expectations.

See you there!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:59 pm

You are now making life decisions based on advice from a giant cat.

Welcome to burning man.

freeDOOM · Post by **freeDOOM** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:16 pm

Thank you!

I'm so excited and am going to start planning right away.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:22 pm

LeChatNoir is a regular sized cat.

Post by **Sham** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:11 am

gyre wrote:You are now making life decisions based on advice from a giant cat.
Welcome to burning man.

Gyre, I'm not sure why this struck me as so funny, but you're right. A giant black cat that he never met will probably change the entire course of his life. The thought of this makes me want to curl up and lick myself!

.
.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:19 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:LeChatNoir is a regular sized cat.

That's not what Karine said..........................................................

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:23 pm

Shambala wrote:
gyre wrote:You are now making life decisions based on advice from a giant cat.
Welcome to burning man.
Gyre, I'm not sure why this struck me as so funny, but you're right. A giant black cat that he never met will probably change the entire course of his life. The thought of this makes me want to curl up and lick myself!
.
.

you could be in films.........

Hayden · Post by **Hayden** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:19 pm

gyre wrote:You are now making life decisions based on advice from a giant cat.

Welcome to burning man.

One of the best quotes ....ever. Thanks for making my day!

schimmer · Post by **schimmer** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:27 am

Hey - I have a friend who took his family to Burning Man their truck broke down there and a complete stranger let them borrow their truck to go get parts in town. This friend took me last year to BM and I was excited because I feel so restricted in this world. I feel like a cross breed in what we call reality but I heard in BM their are no cross breeds we are all each other - each person you see seems to reflect some part of who you are - the quirky drunk guy learning to ride a bike who seriously didn't mean to hit you as you giggle because it was no big deal help him back on to his bike and teach him where the brakes are to the people walking around in next to nothing expressing the freedom of being you without someone going OMG how could they do that - to all those who judge - we are born naked and if we were raised naked instead of raised to think it's unnatural to be naked, reality would be able to handle it - if you can't handle beauty as it should be in all shapes and sizes - don't effen look and let them be. It is how it should be - Burning Man is as life should be. I met a couple in Vegas in a small club in Ceasar's Palace before I went. I wish I remembered their names but I do remember they were from KAOS - the girl told me when she heard I was going - "just remember you will know who you really are when you leave" Another guy said to go quickly because the more years that pass the more "normies" that will come. Don't feel alone - you will be with 50,000 of your closest friends when you get there. I don't know about you but I'd travel a very long way to get to see that many of my closest friends all in one spot. "Only at Burning Man" you will understand that if you go. [quote="zachass"]Hey DOOM. Welcome.

I'm new here too. The snark you see isn't folks being mean. It's just internet snark. You'll start to see through it after a little while on the boards. I myself, like snark, so it's easy to see.

I'll feed the discussion a bit.

I have a boss who's a Burning Man Ranger of many years. He's been trying to 'talk me into' BM for 2 years now. I went to a party where I met several other people, Burners, and just decided it was time. The point? The same thing could happen to you. I agree with the advice regarding some type of regional event; you might meet people who turn you on to it or off, but I think talking with some people, meeting them, will serve you well.

Care to share what it is about the idea that intrigued you? That might help folks steer you in the right direction as far as research, but if you use the search function on these boards, most questions have been asked and answered. It's not as easy as instant gratification, but rather your first step in collaborating with the do-acracy.[/quote]

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 10:19 am

Hayden wrote:
gyre wrote:You are now making life decisions based on advice from a giant cat.

Welcome to burning man.
One of the best quotes ....ever. Thanks for making my day!

Thanks, Hayden.

bobotinks · Post by **bobotinks** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:49 pm

Hello there mate, I haven`t been to BM, but I hope to go this year!

In the mean time why don`t you all enjoy this rather lovely song!

b0 xx[/url]

Should I go to burning man?

Quote from a Burner