I Miss It Already

daisymeuy · Post by **daisymeuy** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:46 am

I got back from my first trip to Burning Man last night. It was the most amazing time of my life. Iâ€™ve never been so happy and nothing has ever felt so perfect. I never have loved life so much. I just enjoyed everything, enjoyed being. . . none of what I felt had to do anything with drugs. . . But now that Iâ€™m back in the â€œrealâ€

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:09 am

Welcome to decompression. It's one of the worst hangovers you'll ever experience. Many people find relief by focusing on the next year's theme, thinking of plans to expand their camp, designing an art car, looking online for pics and video clips so you can relive the experience and more.

In short you are far from being alone!

dragonflyannie · Post by **dragonflyannie** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:13 am

Oh yes. I have been there and remember it well. It's never as bad as the first year back to the default world! It will ease with time, but the first week back is going to be tough. Best thing to do is just stay in contact with those that shared the experience with you. Also, that sense of community you learned to love so much?... figure out how to bring it with you. How can you live that in this world we all must be a part of the other 51 weeks a year? If there are any decompression parties in your area, GO! Share stories, share pictures and thank goodness for the eplaya.

These next few days will be rough, as you will notice things about our society that just don't feel right anymore (the traffic, the rudeness, the lack of awareness, the mundane boring gray cube at work (that was my experience)... I was a mess after my first year in 2000 but slowly you will re-acclimate. Each year that drive to get back "home" will pull you back... again and again. Each year it will be easier to re-acclimate, but it's never easy.

Just remember, that even though this sucks... you are blessed to have experienced what you just did and to truly have gotten it.

Love and light,
Annie

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:20 am

yeah, what DFA said................

I'm there with you.
This was my second year, and, adjustment is tough still, at least for me.........
Pics and talk seem to work well for me. search for them, look at your own, look at the swag you brought back.........don't wash everything right away, some never. When you need, take out that dusty thing and smell and inhale some playa, it's comforting.............

good luck

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:37 pm

Kinetic V wrote:Many people find relief by focusing on the next year's theme, thinking of plans to expand their camp, designing an art car, looking online for pics and video clips so you can relive the experience and more.

And getting involved wth whatever local burner community you have there. That changed my life, too.

sonic · Post by **sonic** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:12 pm

This was my 7th burn, and my 7th decompression. This one is hardest for me yet. I was on the playa longer than in the past - 9 nights, and maybe that is why. As soon as I found myself alone in my truck on the drive home, stuck in traffic, and being bombarded with commercialson the radio, I wanted to run back to the playa. Today, sitting in my cubical was torture. Coming back to all the pressures and standards of society is very difficult. Today I was annoyed at having to put on "normal" clothes to go to work. Packing away my "Burning Man" clothes and self expression is depressing.

I agree with the advice of keeping in touch with your fellow burning friends, eplaya friends, and looking at pictures. A lot. I look at my pictures all year long, they are on my screen saver and hanging in my cube. It reminds me of the beautiful community and wonderful interactions of the playa and helps me to carry those feelings of community, self expression, and love for others with me daily.

I'm glad BRC touched and transformed your life. My best wishes for your decompression. See you on the playa next year.

-Crescent