Two Virgins from Nebraska

[Semicola]

Hey All!

My wife and I will be attending Burning Man for the first time this year! i think I first found out about Burning Man from a Mark Day Youtube video 5 or 6 years ago. Since then its always been a lingering thought in the back of my mind, but not something that I could realistically make happen. I would always lurk on eplaya and /r/burningman on Reddit and just take in as much info as i could and live vicariously through all of you wonderful people.

Last year I decided that i was done just watching and reading about Burning Man, but somehow, someway I was going to get there myself. I finally brought it up to my wife and she thought I was crazy and figured it was just another one of my ideas that come and go and that would I eventually forget about it. I tried not to push too hard, but when the opportunity presented itself I would send her a video or something about one of the ten principles. We watched the live stream of 2015 quite a bit and after we watched the man burn I explained that I really wanted to attend in 2016.

We discussed the struggle that it would be with our jobs and family to be gone for 10 days in early fall. We talked about the harsh conditions, the amount of planning, the cost and all the challenges we would face just trying to get there. She wasn't totally on board at first and I almost gave up on the idea. The last thing I wanted to do was drag somebody to the middle of the desert that didn't want to be there. It had to be something we would do together and we both had to want it. We continued to talk and learn more over the next few months. We continued to make plans, but I don't know that either of us were 100% sure we were going to go.

In my mind, the turning point was when she bought me the book "The Art of Burning Man" by NK Guy. As we were able to spend time digesting each image, it became clear to us that Burning Man was something that we needed to be part of. There was something that the physical book was able to provide, that videos, forum posts and blogs couldn't. The book was also great to introduce our families to Burning Man. While some people we talked to had heard about Burning Man, they really had no idea what it was about. Being able to sit down and show them the environment, the art, the people and the love, was awesome.

My wife and I are both almost 40, but still wanted to make sure our families were supportive of the trip. We knew that without them being on-board our challenges would be even greater. Who would care for our son, who will take care of our pets for 10 days? What about the camper that my wife's parents own? Would they allow us to borrow it for a trip? Fortunately both of our families are great and everyone is happy to help! Grandma thinks 10 days with her favorite grandson sounds like the best vacation she could ever wish for! The camper hardly ever gets used so they are also happy that someone will be getting some use out of it.

Yesterday we purchased our tickets and we are both ecstatic, but nervous! There is so much planning to do, while still juggling our busy lives. We make time here and there to work on projects and make plans. We are looking forward to spring so we can start getting familiar with the 5th wheel camper that we will be bringing. Neither of us have any experience with campers, so that is probably my biggest worry right now.

There are only 190 days left to plan, so I suppose I should quit being so long winded and go solder some LEDs or something! We can't wait to go home!

[tamarakay]

Welcome! Tons of info here for a newbie. If you have trouble finding something let us know, we are sometimes helpful. If you get snark just roll with it. We don't bite that hard.

[Ratty]

Welcome Semicola and Misses. There is plenty of time for prep if you start now. Believe me, you will never be 100% ready. Every year we all run out of time for the fine tuning. Make lists of food, equipment, necessary items and frills. Start a collection of burner things. (You might as well buy that Rubbermaid shed now. You'll need it later.) Read everything on the Burning Man site and do research here. You'll be ready enough. You won't die and you will have fun. Don't spend a bunch of money on costumes, gifts or extravagant comfort. Buy the basics and don't sweat the small stuff. Don't buy a $30 face mask. Get a half dozen large bandannas. Cheap strings of battery lights will do. Go easy on the food. You won't want to cook or eat as much. Box wine and cheap cans of beer are very tasty out there. A bottle of vodka and small cans of pineapple juice, (or redbull), taste like a slice of heaven in the heat. Welcome to ePlaya. Join in the conversations and we'll hug you later. See ya in the dust.

[lucky420]

Hola and hello...

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Drawingablank]

Welcome.

There is a great burner community in Nebraska, although I don't recall seeing any of them on Eplaya lately. Check the regional info if interested.

[Savannah]

Welcome, Mr. & Mrs. Semicola!

I sense that you'll be fine. Plan to the teeth (sounds like that's your style!) and suspend your expectations.

[Semicola]

suspend your expectations

Thank you for saying this. It's something that I am really trying to focus on. I'm trying to be completely open to whatever experience is waiting for me and to enjoy it for what it is.

Thank you everyone for the warm greeting. I can't wait to be on the playa with each of you!

[Savannah]

suspend your expectations

Thank you for saying this. It's something that I am really trying to focus on. I'm trying to be completely open to whatever experience is waiting for me and to enjoy it for what it is.

Good! It can be anywhere from transcendent to terrible. The same Burn that is life-changing for one person is a shitshow for another.

Expect an adventure at most, and you will not be disappointed.

Thank you everyone for the warm greeting. I can't wait to be on the playa with each of you!

And you can meet us if you like! . . . We're sweeter than we seem.

* Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro (Location to be Announced on ePlaya)
* Wednesday of the Burn. 6pm - until 9 or the last person is carried away by Unicorn Drone
* Bring nibbles, a bottle, or a bag of ice to share.