2008, first year?

jr1788 · Post by **jr1788** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:53 pm

I'm 20 years old, and have been dying to go to burning man for the last 4 years. I figured, I finally have the cash to do it, and can get the time off of work, and am more mature than I was 4 years ago. Now, no one wants to accompany me to it. I still wanna go, but dont want to go by my lonesome. I live in Northern California, and am looking for some people who might be interested in going as a group, or might be able to give me advice on going by myself, and if it is still a good experience going solo.

hsdavis · Post by **hsdavis** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:53 pm

I would recommend that you sign up with your local regional group and meet up with other burners in your area. http://regionals.burningman.com/ Then, read the survival guide several times to make sure that you are really ready for the extreme conditions that await you. http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/ Preparing for every senario will help make you a much happier camper. The Burning Man website is full of useful information and you should spend time poking around and studying up. Lastly, buy your ticket and don't look back. Good luck and see you on the playa!

emotion_sickness · Post by **emotion_sickness** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:02 pm

Last year was my first year and i went by myself...it was a long 2 day drive but i think the time helped me to get in the right frame of mind and also had me really anxious to interact with other humans by the time i got there.

Stag camp was very welcoming and was almost entirely comprised of others, virgins and vets alike, who came on their own and banded together, no drama and great folks to spend time with! Finding a group like that might be a good option for you...however, i must say that I felt the "Single Creepy Guy" vibe a few times on my wanderings about town (in spite of the fact that i dont really think I'm all that creepy, just a little weird, but hey, out there who isn't!), and having a friend or someone i knew travel with me would have probably gone a long way towards getting rid of that i think.

But on the flip side, people were so friendly I found that most of the time I could hang out with anyone I met and met some of the coolest people that way! Going alone really helps you break free from the default world, if there is no one there you know then you aren't tied into any preconcieved notions of who you are, or how you should behave, and can truly be yourself. It gave me a very personal experience that was untainted by anyone else's, especially for it being my virgin year, and I wouldn't dream of changing it even if i could!

Papa Thanatos · Post by **Papa Thanatos** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:46 pm

I'll be in the same boat as i'll likely be going alone myself. Its not so much being their on my own that worries me, its getting their.

Never really been off the tourist trail before, so flying to the States then getting all the way down to Nevada is a daunting prosepect. The way I see it though, plenty of people have done it before me, so why can't I?

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:32 pm

Never really been off the tourist trail before, so flying to the States then getting all the way down to Nevada is a daunting prosepect.

You can fly all the way to Reno, if you like. Renting a car there may be a problem, though, since most returns are filthy, and the rental companies don't like that.

If you need information on shopping in Reno, check here:
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno
and here:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/t ... /reno.html

Landstuhl61 · Post by **Landstuhl61** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:06 pm

Just go. This will be my first year. I've been wanting to go for years, never felt the right time, didn't have enough resources, didn't have anyone to go with, etc. etc. etc.

This year, I just said, "To hell with it, just go" I'm just going to go with eyes and ears open, and have a good time. If nothing else, it will be a learning experience.

I'm going solo, driving from Minnesota. I'm probably going to find an old van or RV, outfit it with what I can afford, and make it up as I go. As long as I have enough food, fluids and a place to crash, I'm good.

See you there.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:22 am

Landstuhl61 wrote:Just go. This will be my first year. I've been wanting to go for years, never felt the right time, didn't have enough resources, didn't have anyone to go with, etc. etc. etc.

This year, I just said, "To hell with it, just go" I'm just going to go with eyes and ears open, and have a good time. If nothing else, it will be a learning experience.

Bravo!

I made excuses for not going for many years until finally I just forgot about it. I was surfing around and came across a huge photo album of pics from the 06 Burn about a week after it was over and decided then and there that come hell or high water, I would be there for the next one.

And I was.

And it was amazing.

And now they will have to move it and not tell to keep me from returning every year.

I notice that people, myself included, are quite adept at convincing themselves to not do things. Especially when it comes to an event like Burning Man. Even more so when there is a significant round trip drive on top of everything else.

Drock · Post by **Drock** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:33 pm

I'm glad to hear plenty of people go solo and have a good time, This will be my first year and I'm having trouble finding people who will just drop there excuses and go. If I have to go alone then so be it, thanks everyone

SpaceCowboy · Post by **SpaceCowboy** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:58 pm

last year was my first year and I went it alone. I mean of the 50,000 people there I did not know a single person. I had a great time and this year I bought my ticket the first day. And you know what, i am going by myself again this year but I will not be alone. I do not think it is possible to go to BM and feel alone, just not possible. That is unless you are a complete social misfit.

By all means just do it. Don't wait for somebody else to go with you.....just do it.

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:20 pm

2003 Was my virgin year BEYOND BELIEF .... I drove by myself from Las Vegas via Seattle and Arizona loooonnnnggg story... I only scanned the survial guide once.... even thou I grew up camping-I'm a girlie girl... AND I MADE IT and I'll never ever miss it again.... last year my 5th I went in early... met a girl on the ride share and drove down with her from Seattle-

YEA!!!! FROG POND ROCKS!!!!

SOOOOO JUST GO

I don't make people promises-but I PROMISE you this BURNING MAN is a life changing event....

Chief · Post by **Chief** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:40 pm

Barbie wrote: I don't make people promises-but I PROMISE you this BURNING MAN is a life changing event....

2008 will be my first year. I am excited and nervous about just letting go, but I don't think I will have a problem when I know there are people like you around.

Are you connected with the Barbi Death camp? Just curious.

erri2000 · Post by **erri2000** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:47 am

Hey Chief. No disrespect, but do you "really" think they use real Barbi's at Barbi Death Camp and Wine Bistro?

I wanna party with you buddy. You have to stop by the Lounge in 2008!

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:27 pm

Are you sure this won't be your first year, Mousey Mouse ?

why, why, why......

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:38 pm

Barbie wrote:2003 Was my virgin year BEYOND BELIEF .... I drove by myself from Las Vegas via Seattle and Arizona loooonnnnggg story... I only scanned the survial guide once.... even thou I grew up camping-I'm a girlie girl... AND I MADE IT and I'll never ever miss it again.... last year my 5th I went in early... met a girl on the ride share and drove down with her from Seattle-

YEA!!!! FROG POND ROCKS!!!!

SOOOOO JUST GO

I don't make people promises-but I PROMISE you this BURNING MAN is a life changing event....

Except that Frog Pond is off limits to participants these days ... as it was in 2003 during the event. The survival guide is not simply about surviving desert conditions, it has a lot of other information. Like don't bring feathers and no baby-wipes in the potties. Not saying you did those things, just a note to the newbs there's more to Burning Man than making to the end of the event alive.

Yes, just go ... but please, do read the survival guide.

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:30 pm

Hahahaha...she got cha', Moderator M.

The Frog Pond is a theme camp, over on the other side of the world(9:00 area)

They have a really big waterslide, made with sign vinyl.

and yeah, it rocked...........

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:08 pm

D'oh! May I have my big red L for my forehead now?

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:24 pm

Sure thing, Moderator M.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:25 pm

Thank you!

giacinto · Post by **giacinto** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:37 am

Hi all... somebody mention something called "stag camp"? What is it?

Thanks,

Giac

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:57 pm

giacinto wrote:Hi all... somebody mention something called "stag camp"? What is it?

Thanks,

Giac

Stag Camp = People Coming Solo

Barbie · Post by **Barbie** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:55 pm

No-I meant the real FROG POND...And yes I did know that it was closed to participants- I went in early last year and got to visit Frog Pond- and Yes IT DID ROCK!!!!

I grew up camping and on boats sooooooooooooo, yes I do understand about baby wipes in porta potties even without reading it in the Survival Guide... All of mine go into an old gallon water jug along with used glow sticks, this is also a good place to put used tampons and used comdoms (if you happen to get laid on the playa) I carry plastic baggies in my pack -to put these things in on the way back to camp...
and I wasn't saying not to read the survival guide... I was just trying to explain that I didn't... And still made IT... SOOOOOO JUST GO.... BUT PLEASE READ SURVIVAL GUIDE AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES.... And bring good walking shoes and keep your BARE FEET OFF THE PLAYA...

And I'm sorry I mentioned FROG POND...

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:43 pm

Hey all,

2008 will be my first year. I cleared out my obstacles and bought my ticket as soon as I could.

On a wild hair two weeks ago I did search in a couple of forums I frequent. It took approximately two hours for someone to write back. "I'm a burner. I live right down the road. A bunch of us are getting together this weekend."

So now I know a dozen folks nearby who are going and I'm planning to camp with another dozen or so from the forum. Plus I love to talk to strangers.

I'm gonna pack what I need to survive on my own and do my best zen 'go with the moment' when I get there.

My point is that you can probably find some people in advance through resources you already have.

See ya in the desert.

Lewis

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