Newbie from Hawaii--should I go alone?

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:08 am

I heard about this event last year for the first time and didn't get to go.
I have another opportunity this year, although I just remembered to check it out last week. For a week now I've spent HOURS on here researching everything about preperation, events, etc...

I have no one to go with. I'll have to rent a car in Reno. I will be camping alone. Now, I've got the resources to attend, but I admit, it's all so extremely overwelming to think about going alone.
At the worst, I fear death from the heat/exhaustion, at the least I fear being totally hopelessly overwelmed.
Should I try to attend the event alone? I'm a 28 yr old female, usually very independant and I enjoy it.
Something is calling me out there...it's all I can think about... I feel I'm supposed to be out there.
Is it just too late in the game and too risky for a newbie to attempt this alone?
Thanks for reading.
Peace

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:27 am

Welcome Home, Now that being said, Come join 38k of your new friends.. You'll be fine.. Alot of us go alone the 1st year. You'll be fine...

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:31 am

You'll be fine, and stop by Twin Cities Surplus in Reno and see if you can give a ride to a transportless burner.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:58 am

Don't worry. Be happy.

ckburn · Post by **ckburn** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:27 am

It is absolutely not too late, and you will only regret it if you pass up another chance to go. Do it. Please.

If you have problems out there, just ask for help. You will be amazed at the generosity of complete strangers. If you hate it, you have your rental car and you can always leave. Civilization (pay phones, a store with food and cold drinks, etc.) is only a 20 minute drive from the event. It's not like you're hiking 20 miles out into the wildnerness where you have no easy access to get the hell out in a pinch.

You will be fine, you will love it, and it will change your life.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:49 am

If you don't go you will regret it. From your post that is obvious. My wifve went alone her first year and it was wonderful. Come on out, the water's fine.

panda · Post by **panda** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:53 am

GO, GO, GO!

I went alone one year. After three years of camping with friends. It was a last minute thing since I had just moved from Maine to CA and was both discombobulated from the move and low on money. As I was sitting in the door of my tent that first day there, watching people walk by, feeling a little bit like "why did I do this? I don't *know* anyone!" I suddenly realized that that didn't matter. I got up, introduced myself to the neighbors I had been watching work and from that point on had the best year ever. I still talk to those neighbors, too.

Go and just have fun, you'll be glad you did. :)

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 10:27 am

Have you got a rental car reserved? You might give that a shot _right_now_ if you haven't.

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:31 pm

Thank you everyone, for replying and showing support. I'm feeling more motivated with the reassurance. I've reserved the tickets for car/flight. I still have to purchase them soon, but for now they are reserved. At least I don't have to actually purchase the car rental until I get there though.

I've printed out the survival guide, and will have to start looking for equiptment I can fly with. Everything else, I hope to find a Walmart out in Reno or something similar so I don't have to haul a lot on the plane.

This gathering sounds amazing. I've never been to anything quite like this. Thanks again for the encouragement.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:25 pm

Louise and I will be giving away playa wear on Friday about 2:00 o'clock. We're in Hushville, 8:30 and Chance. Stop by for free clothes.

See Louise's shopping pages at
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno

See our guides to Burning Man for first timers, things you didn't know you'd need, more at
http://www.cieux.com/bm/bmtoc.html#perennialGuides

You will _love_ Burning Man.[/url]

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:23 pm

Wow thank you so much. Those links are great. I'm studying them now.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 6:38 am

transgirl wrote:Wow thank you so much. Those links are great. I'm studying them now.

Stop studying .....Start packing...

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:22 am

Transgirl, stop by Barbie Death Camp for a glass of wine and an aloha!

gina bear · Post by **gina bear** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:26 am

Hey Hawaii
Greetings from ireland, me and my friend are first timers as well and are quite daunted by the whole experience like yourself. I propose perhaps we could share the experience be people for you to lean on, share resources and learn of the burning way together as we are all as clueless as each other. Wev travelled a long way to participate in this event and all the help we can get would be appreciated. :D
Gina bear you can contact me on my mobile on 631 702 3417

sunnflower · Post by **sunnflower** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:36 am

I hope you go! And I hope you stop and see me (the lone girl) amidst a camp of all guys...look us up, Camp Erwin. We'd love to have you over for some dinner anytime!! I'll be looking for some female company after a bit for sure so I'd be so glad to have you over.

Oh, and check out the Playa Calendar if you haven't already, there are at least two Goddess parties you should drop in at. I plan to go, as well as the Meet and Greet at the Barbie Death Camp....it will be great to meet people there as well.
Have a great time and enjoy every moment.

bellastrega · Post by **bellastrega** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:49 pm

I'm going alone for my first time too. Kick ass.

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:51 am

Awesome. Thanks you guys. I went shopping at Wallmart, and saw these pool toys in florescent orange and yellow and had a sudden inspiration for a costume! I'm usually not very creative like that, so to be suddenly inspired was cool. THEN I go to Goodwill to find interesting clothes or whatnot, and got a SIGN I think, that I should be there: extra fabric in striped, Florescent ORANGE AND YELLOW! A perfect match for the pool toy material, and a very unlikely find. So I made a skirt and tubetop and headdress out of it and now I have one full costume!

I don't really know where I should camp, but I hope it will all come together when I get there. I'm going to print this thread out before I leave so I have all your advice and locations.

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:44 pm

It's OFFICIAL. Bought my flight and BM tickets today. See ya there!

doberman · Post by **doberman** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:46 pm

i've heard about this event a couple of days ago.. and read pretty much everything about it, i feel i should be there. so says the friend that pointed me there to!!

heck, i'd love to get in a plane and just come.. alone, with somebody, i dont really care. but i guess its too late for this year!!!

transgirl · Post by **transgirl** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:55 pm

They're selling tickets at the door for 350 bucks at the gate. There's also a list on this website of stores in certain cities selling tickets.

If you have to fly in, I think it's better to book the return flight on the 5th. That's how I got a pretty good fare. It would cost me 400 dollars more to leave on the 4th. Guess that's pretty telling.

I don't think it's too late, at least the 4th is a holiday.

doberman · Post by **doberman** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:32 am

yes, but i have to fly in from switzerland, are bound with my dog, do some schooling at the moment, dont have a job and should take care of that too.. just to many problems and not enough money to solve them..

i'll be there next year, thats one thing to look forward to, hopefully i have solved my issues then..

heck, i would love to be there! hope to see some news here at least, dont forget to post pictures, experiences, videos whatever.. and think of the doberman that would fit just perfect in there! damn, all this fetish-clothing that i cant wear on a regular basis, lying around useless in my cubbard! they want to be worn, shown off..

Cosmic Code Authority · Post by **Cosmic Code Authority** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:56 am

transgirl wrote:If you have to fly in, I think it's better to book the return flight on the 5th. That's how I got a pretty good fare. It would cost me 400 dollars more to leave on the 4th. Guess that's pretty telling.

with some (but not all) vouchers, it doesn't matter, you simply get a free one-way (or round-trip ticket).

either that or go to your city (or a big city, like NYC or LA) Craigslist, go to the For Sale section (specifically the tickets section) and enter as a search term, voucher.

I just read and responded to one offering a Southwest Airlines pass with no restrictions, assuming, of course, they have space available.

warning: according to another Craigslist poster a scam has gone around offering Delta Airlines vouchers. (why Delta, in particular, I don't know.) I definitely have seen a disproprotionately high number of Delta tickets on offer, for $200, $225 or $250, with pretty much identical wordings. (the scammers operate out of Atlanta, according to this poster, though how he/she knows this, I don't know.)

you can also get ticket vouchers on eBay, though I mainly use Craigslist for those searches myself.

Newbie from Hawaii--should I go alone?

Newbie from Hawaii--should I go alone?

fellow first timer

if I can do it...