How do you avoid Burning Man Burn Out???!!!

[Stilesfamily]

This will be my 3rd year both of my previous years had been unique and amazing experiences but this year I fear a let down, that my wife and I will both have far too many preconceived notions of what our experience will be like. So I am trying hard to free myself of all this cerebral MOOP so I can have a nice raw experience. Anyone have any mental exercises that might do the trick??

2003 – Wife and I had amazing experience from start to finish, cried when we had to leave before the temple burn and enjoyed a 2 month buzz.

2004 – Went with my 65 year old father, wife was home with our then 6 week old baby. Saw the wonder I experienced in my fathers eyes. Especially when we arrived @ 11 pm after the long quite drive and I walked him out onto the playa and saw the expression on his face. He immediately got it and has never really been the same since. That was probably the last time he and I will be able to get away on a father son trip like this, and I will cherish it always.

[AntiM]

Our third year we volunteered at the Bus Depot, something totally outside our previous burn experiences. Step outside your usual venue and pitch in ... there's lots to do for others. Look for ways to increase your interactions with others, that's when I've had the best times, even if the moments are rather fleeting.

Or you can do a small art project in your camp, something interactive, nothing fancy, a way to bring art and fun into the city on a human scale.

Second year: gift rack outside camp, that was fun. Guardians at the man. Interesting and unique experience.

Third year: fridge magnet poetry and gift rack, fun, plus bus depot ticket booth, odd handling money! I did get interactions at the gift rack when I'd go out to tidy it, great way to chat with folks I'd otherwise have never met.

Yeah, and what did I do last year? Nuttin' but survive. Mostly.

This year: Anti M's Home for Wayward Art. A hit at the regional, will it work at Bman?

And we always bring the snowcone machine, what a wonderful ice breaker.

[HughMungus]

This will be my 3rd year both of my previous years had been unique and amazing experiences but this year I fear a let down, that my wife and I will both have far too many preconceived notions of what our experience will be like. So I am trying hard to free myself of all this cerebral MOOP so I can have a nice raw experience. Anyone have any mental exercises that might do the trick??

I think the best way to avoid burn-out is something that AntiM implied and that is to start giving back more than you get AND to try to make each year different (based on what you do when you're there). Personally, my first few years consisted of observing, participating, and generally having a good time. I've shifted my focus now to giving back -- to creating the kinds of environments that others have created for me in my first few years; that's culminating this year in my first public camp. If you can't swing that, another way to give back is to get involved with the infrastructure projects that need volunteers (greeters, lamplighters, DPW, whatever) or even something as simple as making coffee for your neighbors.

I think the best way to avoid your expectations being unfulfilled is to keep them low. When I think of Burning Man, I think that I'll get to travel somewhere away from the hot, humid flatlands, enjoy the hot desert days and cold desert nights, see the playa and the mountains, see the milky way at night, go to the board's meet & greet, and, this year, setup a camp where people can hang out and make stuff. This will give me plenty of *opportunities* for doing what I really like to do at b-man which includes making new connections with people, re-connecting with people, helping out where I can, and keep an eye out for the future Mrs. DallasaPlaya. But I'm not worried about it. I guess it's like the superbowl. Some years the superbowl is great and sometimes it's so-so and sometimes it's awful. But hey -- no matter how bad it is, you got to go to the superbowl!

[Stilesfamily]

You guys are all right on the money. This is pretty much my line of thinking as well, but it is always nice to hear it reaffirmed by others. My wife is planning to volunteer at center camp and I want to do some time at playa info as an Oracle. I think I speak for both of us when I say we both feel this year will be about trying to make others experience as powerful as our first was. And connections we both want to connect more with the community this year. Our first year we were pretty timid and did not get out much, last year I did a lot more exploring but it felt kinda empty without my wife. This year we both just want to enjoy the experience for what it is and just have a good time.

I remember our first night out on our first burn, the way the esplanade lights up at night, we walked out to the man and we were having an little argument. One of the temple guardians asked us if we wanted to be gods. The took us into the temple (2003) and made and made us up, We each sat in those little alcoves for at least 2 hours and people came up and made us offerings, prayed to us, asked us questions and stared really deeply into my eyes (yes there were yahoo’s but why discuss them). I have never had such an intimate experience in such a context, it was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. I want to be part of that experience for someone else, but right there is presumption about what my experience SHOULD be like. Well if your going to have one I guess that having them about giving is better than looking for what you will receive, if that makes any sense.


Off Topic, to AntiM. I read your response recently to the gentleman who wanted to give free breasts exams, given that my wife has just recently had a relapse and herself will have a nice fresh lumpectomy scar, I though your response was quite appropriate and put the idea into perspective. Though personally felt his response was quite thoughtless and hurtful.