Now or Never

[freyamaat]

I'm not even sure how I first heard about BM, but I know that it's consumed my entire existence for the past three years. I've had playa lust so badly and one way or another something always manages to come up that prevents me from going.

Well, not this year. With my best friends ability to reign in my passion and his ability to make plans, we're really hoping to both make it this year. We'll both be burner virgins but I'm looking forward to the experience.

I'm not going to lie though, I'm terrified. Going into something new and completely unexpected scares me and there's really only SO MUCH prep work you can do. It's all in theory until you hit the dust.

Still, I'm very much looking forward to it.

[Captain Goddammit]

Jeez, don't stress. It's just a camping trip/party. People make it out to be a voyage to deep space... it's more like a refugee tent city with booze music and art.

[lucky420]

Nailed it! 100

[Kelsier]

Welcome! Don't stress; I did that last year and was completely unnecessary.

I know, easier said than done. Sounds like you've done lots of planning already, so you are already most of the way there. Just don't forget to bring water.

[Token]

But the back of the ticket says you might DIE!

Oh the huge manatee!
.

[Savannah]

I'm not even sure how I first heard about BM, but I know that it's consumed my entire existence for the past three years. I've had playa lust so badly and one way or another something always manages to come up that prevents me from going.

Well, not this year. With my best friends ability to reign in my passion and his ability to make plans, we're really hoping to both make it this year. We'll both be burner virgins but I'm looking forward to the experience.

I'm not going to lie though, I'm terrified. Going into something new and completely unexpected scares me and there's really only SO MUCH prep work you can do. It's all in theory until you hit the dust.

Still, I'm very much looking forward to it.

Welcome, Freyamaat!

Fear is normal. I was scared my first year too. I still get scared about the drive, even though I've piloted my own truck 3 times now.

Use your fear to prepare adequately; it'll help you. Read the Survival Guide a few more times. Google topics and add the word "eplaya" when you do it. It'll help you figure out the holes in your knowledge and what specific concerns you have.

[freyamaat]

Thanks Savannah. I needed to hear that. A lot of it is just irrational anxiety and fear of change/New experiences. There are so many ways to get hurt in the world and be taken advantage of. Burning Man is, as much as I am loathe to admit it, still a dangerous place and there are so many ways for things to go wrong. Especially when you throw in certain humans. And certain humans scare me.

I'm hoping this experience and all it holds in terms of promise are worth facing that fear for. I would love to meet you this year and give you a hug as well as a personal thank you for your support and encouragement.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[freyamaat]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Thanks!!!

[MrFortuna]

Especially when you throw in certain humans. And certain humans scare me.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what kind of humans are you referring to exactly?

[freyamaat]

Especially when you throw in certain humans. And certain humans scare me.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what kind of humans are you referring to exactly?

Let's just say certain class, color, and creed.

[freyamaat]

Welcome! Don't stress; I did that last year and was completely unnecessary.

I know, easier said than done. Sounds like you've done lots of planning already, so you are already most of the way there. Just don't forget to bring water.

-hugs- Thank you for the feedback. Encouragement and excitement help. Especially since I can't shut it off. I'm going to be anxious. It's just the way my brain works. Hyper prepping is all I can do to try and keep control of it.

[gaminwench]

OP, I think that you will find that 'certain humans', if they are in BRC, are easily avoidable.

I have no idea what your criteria for 'certain humans' might be, of course, but at BM one can just walk away from anything one finds uncomfortable.

[Kelsier]

Welcome! Don't stress; I did that last year and was completely unnecessary.

I know, easier said than done. Sounds like you've done lots of planning already, so you are already most of the way there. Just don't forget to bring water.

-hugs- Thank you for the feedback. Encouragement and excitement help. Especially since I can't shut it off. I'm going to be anxious. It's just the way my brain works. Hyper prepping is all I can do to try and keep control of it.

Make sure your anxiousness doesn't interfere with you taking care of yourself in the days leading up to the event. My anxiety last year had me malnourished and dehydrated before I ever got on playa. Not fun.

[Captain Goddammit]

Especially when you throw in certain humans. And certain humans scare me.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what kind of humans are you referring to exactly?

Let's just say certain class, color, and creed.

Lets just say exactly what the hell are you talking about?
You don't like white people? Black people? Poor people? Rich people?
WTF is your fucked up issue, which by the way doesn't belong in Black Rock City?
Perhaps you should clarify... with lots of clarity... because so far you sound like you should stay home.

[Sham]

I will attempt to address your comment about being scared of various "race, color or creed".
Burning Man is the place to address your fears head on. Find people that you have feared your whole life--especially if you've lived a sheltered life in a rural or remote town. Meet these people you fear and strike up a conversation with them. I think you'll find that they are most likely more normal than what you see in the mirror in the morning. You know, a regular person.

Black Rock City is the best place to overcome this fear of yours.

[lucky420]

Maybe I'm missing something, but what kind of humans are you referring to exactly?

Let's just say certain class, color, and creed.

Lets just say exactly what the hell are you talking about?
You don't like white people? Black people? Poor people? Rich people?
WTF is your fucked up issue, which by the way doesn't belong in Black Rock City?
Perhaps you should clarify... with lots of clarity... because so far you sound like you should stay home.

Captain wins

[freyamaat]

Thanks Sham. I'm looking forward to it.

[freyamaat]

Welcome! Don't stress; I did that last year and was completely unnecessary.

I know, easier said than done. Sounds like you've done lots of planning already, so you are already most of the way there. Just don't forget to bring water.

-hugs- Thank you for the feedback. Encouragement and excitement help. Especially since I can't shut it off. I'm going to be anxious. It's just the way my brain works. Hyper prepping is all I can do to try and keep control of it.

Make sure your anxiousness doesn't interfere with you taking care of yourself in the days leading up to the event. My anxiety last year had me malnourished and dehydrated before I ever got on playa. Not fun.

That is an excellent point. I already have problems with my health. I'm hoping not to make it worse by freaking out. That's what Randy is for. He's keeping my panic to a minimum and will do his best to keep me both healthy and hydrated both before and during.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Captain Goddammit]

Hopefully Randy is the RIGHT color, race and creed so you don't have a problem with him.

[Savannah]

Thanks Savannah. I needed to hear that. A lot of it is just irrational anxiety and fear of change/New experiences. There are so many ways to get hurt in the world and be taken advantage of. Burning Man is, as much as I am loathe to admit it, still a dangerous place and there are so many ways for things to go wrong. Especially when you throw in certain humans. And certain humans scare me.

I'm hoping this experience and all it holds in terms of promise are worth facing that fear for. I would love to meet you this year and give you a hug as well as a personal thank you for your support and encouragement.

If you're afraid of either black people or white people, you're going to have to get over it before you hug me. I'm a lot of things.

(My class and creed, if any, will be helpfully invisible to you.)