Potential 2016 Birgin with Questions

[thegreatgrimsby]

Hey all!
I'm seriously considering going to the Burn this year but have encountered a financial strain.
A few of my friends have gone and legend has it that one of them once went with only a large backpack.
While I love the sense of community and support I'm not sure how I would feel about taking and not being able to give something back.
After careful research and budgeting projections I've come to a crossroads:
1) do I spend what I can to do an absolutely barebones trip and hope that the playa provides
or
2) do I forfeit this year, save and go next year in a hopefully better position?

Thanks in advance for your time and advice!

[ygmir]

HI and Welcome!
well, "bare bones" means different things, to different people.
Absolutely, you need to take all the things you need to survive, as far as water and food and shelter.
you do not need to bring gifts, or "trade items". First year especially, just go "be there".
People are fantastic there, and yeah, if you have trouble or forgot "X", didn't know you'd need "Y" or whatever, there is a good chance someone will help you. Especially if you go out of your way to "participate" and get to know your neighbors, maybe lend a hand with setup or whatever to folks. Karma is set on "high" out there often times.
People go on a very low budget, and still have a great time.
Be warned though: "Don't be a leach"
Do your best, be prepared and have all the essentials. Don't go thinking "the playa will provide" (see Karma reference above).

[Aurelia]

YOU must decide what you need.
The issue is survival.
The times can be harsh.
I reconfigure my needs every year.

xoA.

[Ratty]

Grimsby, Welcome to eplaya. I'm so glad you came here. Your comment of

legend has it that one of them once went with only a large backpack.

made me grimace. That would be fine if your backpack contained all the food and water you need for the week, your clothes, sleeping bag and other necessities like sunscreen and goggles. If you bring all needed supplies then you are doin it right. Use Google to search through these eplaya threads. There are years of good advice and when you get stuck on an unanswered question just ask us. We love to help those who help themselves. Get to know us here and we'll hug you in person there.

[thegreatgrimsby]

Thank you all! I keep going over the what to bring threads and trying to estimate what I'll need based on my daily intake.
I can't imagine how my friend survived with just a backpack but I think I am going to try for it this year!
I'm already feeling the love, thanks again!

[Savannah]

Hey all!
I'm seriously considering going to the Burn this year but have encountered a financial strain.
A few of my friends have gone and legend has it that one of them once went with only a large backpack.
While I love the sense of community and support I'm not sure how I would feel about taking and not being able to give something back.
After careful research and budgeting projections I've come to a crossroads:
1) do I spend what I can to do an absolutely barebones trip and hope that the playa provides
or
2) do I forfeit this year, save and go next year in a hopefully better position?

Thanks in advance for your time and advice!

Welcome!

. . . What do you consider "barebones"?

"The playa provides" is more about serendipitous luck, like a surprise meal when you are two miles from camp at dinner time, or a marching band swooping into center camp right as you're proposing to your sweetheart . . . or a strange scarf blowing onto your friend's neck during a dust storm and then disappearing again into the wind as he finds camp. It's not about basic supplies like a week's worth of food or water, a heavy jacket for the cold nights, a good pair of goggles, or well-broken in boots.

It's okay to do things on a shoestring, but the idea is that if no one else showed up, could you survive? If yes, then you're on the right track.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[ChicoTerri]

Hello and welcome!

Indeed "bare bones" can be interpreted many ways. However, you can't fit a week of water into a backpack, much less the rest of what you'll need. You do have the luxury of many months to search out and find what you need, think thrift shops, borrowing what you can, etc. But give up the idea of a backpack alone, it won't be enough.