playa virgin in search of some guidance

zenmb · Post by **zenmb** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:42 am

hey all- i am in need of some love and guidance, looking to hear about the gritty details of what it's going to be like on the playa. it will be myself and another girl friend, both first time, and both psyched to have this experience. is there anyhthing we should be made aware of?- must brings, tips, etc... also would love to e-meet a few friends beforehand to hook up with and show us around.

have some questions i'd love to ask a knowledable soul- thanks in advance for your help!

*peace

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:26 am

Read the first timer's guide on the BM website and the various threads here so you are prepared to take care of your physical needs like water, shade, food, glowy things to light yourself at night, etc. That's all you REALLY need in the end. As far as what it's like, don't expend too much effort trying to figure that out ahead of time. You'll be wrong anyway.

timber mischief · Post by **timber mischief** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:49 am

Bring a Santa suit, or be a sexy xmas helper and come to the santarchy party at mischief camp on weds 7 -10pm.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:15 pm

Drop by Anti M's Home for Wayward Art and adopt some art.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:41 pm

...I think one thing that many beginners under-estimate is the need for recovery time/space. Invest in a good shade structure - I recommend one of those 10'x20' garage type structures (2" poles, not the 1-3/8") and lots of stakes. Bring a good sized tent that is easy to move around in (8'x10' or bigger) and set it up underneath this shade at one end. Bring a queen sized air mattress or futon and sheets, pillows, comforter, etc. Bring a carpet section. Bring chairs and maybe a hammock. Bring ear plugs. When you decide to rest for a few, make sure that you REST.

One thing not to worry about too much - food. It's all wrong in the desert anyways, so you never seem to eat that much. Bring lot's of water and juice tho'. PBR in a can is a local favorite. Liquer and mixer is always a good gift for the neighborhood bar you want to hang at. Always ask before trying to board (or leave ) a Mutant Vehicle. Remember to breath occaisionally.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:31 pm

Guidance? Um, well, hmmmmm......

"To thine own self be true!"

Love? Now that I can do.

Big support and hugs. You'll be great, it'll be an adventure, and life will never be the same. :)

Ron

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:40 pm

Im bringing virgins this year, and love to meet new peoples. Drop a not and we would love to have you drop by and hang out with us.

later

zenmb · Post by **zenmb** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:14 am

thanks all, so far getting even more xcited. still have concerns about the camp-
how do you pick one? do you move around or stay in one place?
is the canopy structure a must have?
i bought a cot with airmatress, is this ideal?
do i need to bring a camp stove or habachi grill?
is it worth lugging a cooler and perishable food, or should it just be canned and freeze dried camp food?
bringing alchohol- is it a good trading gift?
should i expect to smell- and do you get used to it, or is there a way of keeping somewhat stink free? xtra water and wipes (must take home, i know)
thanks if you can answer these!

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:20 am

An established camp may want to get to know you first, and the larger ones have fees. You can camp anywhere in open camping, and usually once you pick a spot you'll be set. Moving around is too much work and the no driving thing discourages that. Don't worry, solo camping is fine, plenty of folks do it. Hushville is a good place for beginners, but you must preregister and agree to terms. Check out www.playachicken.com for details.

You'll want shade of some kind, the sun gets brutal if you have no way to escape it. Unless you're going to hang out in other people's camps, maybe good, but don't count on it.

The food thing is personal preference. We bring a butane campstove for hot water to make coffee amd couscous, but most of us in our tiny camp don't want to deal with frsh perishables, the clean up, the wet waste, the greywater from food prep. There's foodie threads, and I'd say make it simple your first year. Food safety is a must, Do Not use ice out of a cooler for your raw meat to make beverages (we won't let her camp with us ever again).

One small cooler may be useful for you. We do coolers because cold drinks are heavenly in the heat, you can buy ice, but again, not everyone does this. Actually, we have five coolers, one for pre-prepped frozen food, one exclusively for clean consumable ice, one for drinks and cold food, one for camp hospitality, and one for the bike. And our other campmates have their own individual coolers too. (food allergies and specialized diets and food safety make for territorial cooler space in our camp, but we're strange and used to doing it that way.)

Baby wipes take care of most personal hygeine needs, and nothing says you can't bring deoderant. Heck we use it. A mister bottle makes a graeat mini-shower if you're not doing an entire shower set-up.

Read the sticky threads and dig through the old threads especialli in Q&A. Tons of good advice and lots of variations on how to do things so you find a good fit. On the main site, Heloise of the playa has excellent tips. Phil? Your site the civilized explorer? Link please? My bookmarks are all messed up.

Ron · Post by **Ron** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:26 am

zenmb wrote:thanks all, so far getting even more xcited. still have concerns about the camp-
how do you pick one?

Most of the time folk camp with people they either already know or with whom they share some common interest/camp vision. There is a camp or two that's open to all and that tends to have a lot of virgins in 'em. Both the Green Tortoise and Lamplighters come to mind. There are also some folk who find camps to be with via online networking on this, and other, sites, as well as those souls who don't share space with a theme camp at all.

zenmb wrote: do you move around or stay in one place?

Moving your campsite around would probably be a huge pain in the ass.

zenmb wrote: is the canopy structure a must have?

A shade structure of some kind is just about as close to a "must have," as there is on the playa.

zenmb wrote: i bought a cot with airmatress, is this ideal?

If you say it is, then it is. Ideal is a big word, after all. But I'm sure you'll be comfy enough.

zenmb wrote: do i need to bring a camp stove or habachi grill?

I bring a way to cook food and recommend it to others.

zenmb wrote: is it worth lugging a cooler and perishable food, or should it just be canned and freeze dried camp food?

For myself I always bring one or two coolers with dry ice and another with wet ice for storing the frozen consumables but everyone is different.

zenmb wrote: bringing alchohol- is it a good trading gift?

Yes. And good for you too! ;)

zenmb wrote: should i expect to smell- and do you get used to it, or is there a way of keeping somewhat stink free? xtra water and wipes (must take home, i know)
thanks if you can answer these!

Actually it's the bacteria that grows in our sweat that stinks, more than the sweat itself. On playa the sweat tends to evaporate away before any stinky colonies grow, making stickiness and generally feeling covered in dirt and salt more of a hygiene problem than odor. Given enough time without cleaning most folk's ass will make a liar out of me, but in general it's not the smell it's the feel that's bothersome.

I recommend a camp shower, personally. Those solar showers work great and there is nothing like being able to wash the day's dust and grime off before getting all sexied up for a night on the town in BRC....

Helpful?

Ron

zenmb · Post by **zenmb** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:54 am

muchas gracias mr. rob. very helpful. thank you for taking the time!

zenmb · Post by **zenmb** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:36 am

antim antim...there's no place like a home on the playa...

thank you! i really appreciate it! good ideas, thanks for sharing

SwitchbladeButterfly · Post by **SwitchbladeButterfly** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:22 am

Ron wrote: Lamplighters come to mind.

We LOVE newbies! *

All are welcome!

However, to camp with us you MUST register so we know how many people to expect and what provisions need to be made (easy to do, ask me if you're interested), and you have to commit to actually, well, lighting lamps pretty much daily, in addition to contributing to/ helping out with a communal meal and at least one of our two big parties.
(If you are interested we have resources - and people- that explain the specifics in more detail.)

This is actually lots of fun and can be done your virgin year (hey, if *I* can do it...

) - but not everyone wants to commit to that much responsibility before knowing what they're getting into.

Even if it IS the best camp out there... heehee... <grin>

However: Any and every person on the playa is welcome to actually come light the lamps with us any day they like, whether you're camping with us or not! Just show up at our work area (we're right near Center Camp) around 5 pm some day, and we'll put you to work!

* Note for the uninitiated:
Lamplighters go around in these cool robe-thingys every single day with a shitload of kerosene lanterns and hang them up on lamp spires throughout the entire city, so that the major roads are lit up all purty-like throughout the night. Yup, even during dust storms- we hardcore, baby!

playa virgin in search of some guidance

playa virgin in search of some guidance

re: helpful?