southern CA burners

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:32 pm

Has anyone actually gone to Burning Man alone? If so, I'd like to hear about the experience of solo-ing it on the playa.
There just ain't anyone else who wants to go with me this year. Anyone who does seem remotely interested just doesn't seem to want to commit. So I'd like to get in touch with at least SOMEONE, hopefully in or around southern california, who might want to combine forces for BM this year. I definitely don't want to have to go solo but if there is no other choice, maybe I'd consider it.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:43 am

Oh, boo-hoo! You're going to be all alone! Boo-hoo!

Jiminy Cricket, stop being such a wuss and just go.

Puh-lease. I've gone 'alone' for eight (8) freakin' years and am almost never actually 'alone'. You'll like the freedom to do what you want when you want to do it.

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:30 am

Now that is exactly the ridiculous "holier-than-thou" attitude that other burners complain about, as I've read on some other posts.
Way to go, buddy.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:34 am

Meow.

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:36 am

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:37 am

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:37 am

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:43 am

Now that's more like it. Look, I couldn't help but get worked up when you asked:

bw5783 wrote:Has anyone actually gone to Burning Man alone?

Like the answer could be 'no'? I mean, c'mon. There were almost 50K of us last year, and nobody ever shows up alone? Of course they (we!) do. Try it, you'll like it.

Oh, and no dipping your li'l toes in. Jump in the deep end, mister.

bw5783 · Post by **bw5783** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:50 am

Oh I'm sure there are many who go alone but I meant are there any here on the board who can tell me about it. I doubt every Burner uses this message board, so I was asking those who do, you know? Advice is always appreciated and I figured this'd be a place to get it.

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:55 am

Read EVERYTHING on this board, but take it with a grain of salt.

I know, I know. When I came alone my first year, not knowing a single soul, I'll admit I had my doubts as to whether or not this was a good idea. In fact, by the time I hit the gate I was starting to think I'd made a huge mistake. Boy-o, was I wrong. Trust your instincts on this one.

Use the force, Luke.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:10 pm

bw5783 wrote:Now that is exactly the ridiculous "holier-than-thou" attitude that other burners complain about, as I've read on some other posts.
Way to go, buddy.

While Sensi's message lacks polish, it is true. Just get your ticket, clear the calendar and go.

There is ton of information on Burning Man website. Read all of it several times and you will be good. I went by myself the first time and it was fun. You will meet tones of people there and have a good time. Camping with people you know will make it more fun, secure and safe but after a day or two, you will meet everyone around you and make new friends for the week or longer.

If you are in So Cal, we have 3 active communities (LA, OC and SD) with a bunch of our own events that you can goto.

Mr.MaskedDude · Post by **Mr.MaskedDude** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:28 pm

care to link to the OC one? im sure its easy to find, but i have a tendency to not be able to find things that are right under my nose.....well not that thing, i can find that thing just fine (insert winky face)

bigdollabill · Post by **bigdollabill** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:38 pm

The correct expression is "Burn-ier than thou"
My advice to first timers is find burners in your area and ask to join their camp. They are everywhere just ask around. My camps have brought over 200+ first timers to the playa and they have always been a blessing in helping our efforts come together. And they bring an enthusiasm that is sometimes missing in older camps.

Plus getting involved right from the start and interacting with an established camp makes for an easier first year. Is an excellent way of becoming involved with the larger community. And it makes the experience less intimidating. Besides meeting fellow burner is much more fun than hanging out by yourself.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:45 am

Was this a regional question?

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:12 pm

Our camp, Tiki Fuckos, is in the Inland Empire area. If you want to meet some people ahead of time you can join us on a trip or two. A large portion of our group usually gets together at least once a month to do a burningman-ish sorta kinda trip. Most are trips that we attend but quite a few we've put on ourselves. You can also check out Gigsville. The core of Gigsville is L.A. but we're all over the place.

Keep in mind that burners can be harsh. You need to have thick skin on occasion. If you have buttons, you can count on some burner pushing them. Also a lot of us don't deal with other peoples crap. If you need a hand everyone is willing to help, but if you cause problems no one else is going to put up with them.

aranryan · Post by **aranryan** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:13 pm

Hi bw5783!

I am also a newbie going to Burning Man for the first time. I'm south of you down in San Diego County but if you're interested, perhaps we can join up and create a caravan up to the event. I'm still in my early planning phases but the more the merrier!

I don't have grand plans for a theme camp but I am building my own 15ft diameter conduit dome with fully contained shower structure. My g/f and I are setting it up with Hammocks and various decor for comfort. It should be pretty cool. If you're into a project like that, maybe I could help ya out with the details. Send me a message!

-A!

normaleigh · Post by **normaleigh** » Sun May 04, 2008 4:04 pm

MikeVDS wrote:Our camp, Tiki Fuckos, is in the Inland Empire area. If you want to meet some people ahead of time you can join us on a trip or two. A large portion of our group usually gets together at least once a month to do a burningman-ish sorta kinda trip. Most are trips that we attend but quite a few we've put on ourselves. You can also check out Gigsville. The core of Gigsville is L.A. but we're all over the place.

Aloha TikiFucko!

Actually, there's a camping trip coming up called The May Trip. If you're interested, private message me and I'll tell you were it is. It's May 9-11, so your timing is perfect!

I'm a co-Mayor of Gigsville and we're keepin' it relatively small this year in hopes of being placed back on the Esplanade. If you hook up with us now, you can probably still be a part of the community. We do stuff all the time in LA and the larger LA region, so even if you want to camp by yourself, you could certainly have a heck of a time with us fuckos.

To find out more about Gigsville, visit http://www.gigsville.org and be sure to read about how to get involved. We're big on off-playa involvement, because life is year-round for us.

But regarding camping by yourself in the first year... TOTALLY do it. I went alone my first year and, though times were scary, it was such an awesome experience. Going alone is like stepping into the abyss and being caught by a lot of really rad updraft... but without that mushy SMASHO part at the end. Usually. (don't drink and climb scaffolding)

Though I find us welcoming, accepting, supportive, and caring, not everyone does. Many have found Gigsville to be petty, drunk, and cliquish. YMMV.

At the very least, my friend and I are running the Gigsville bar this year, so stop by and have a shot of whiskey. Tell them you're looking for Normal.

That's me,
- Normal

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:43 pm

Solo-ier than thou?

I found a camp with an interesting mix of southern and san diego burners.
Then I couldn't find them when I got there for three days.
They hadn't bothered to register at playa info, or I would have found them.
Mailbox, sign, but not registered.
Only found them then because they had a good sign, so word of mouth actually works.
I walked thirty feet and joined a camp of san diego burners. (Go figure)
Great people, so I stayed when I found the original camp.

I was even invited to stay at another camp later in the week.
Great people from florida.

If you are in camp and still conscious, you're not doing it right.

It can help someone find you, if you are in a known location.
But when people do find you, you will be out anyway.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun May 04, 2008 6:12 pm

The May trip should be fun. I will unfortunately not make it since I have a newborn and new mother who wants something special for that day. I'm not saying the May trip isn't special, it is, just that we'll have to wait til Lil-Finlee gets a bit older.

Glad to see you pop your head in here Normal.

normaleigh · Post by **normaleigh** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:49 am

MikeVDS wrote:The May trip should be fun. I will unfortunately not make it since I have a newborn and new mother who wants something special for that day. I'm not saying the May trip isn't special, it is, just that we'll have to wait til Lil-Finlee gets a bit older.

Glad to see you pop your head in here Normal.

Ooh, congratulations!

Yeah, it'll be a good time. I think it'll be very small, but I've never been one to complain about just sitting out in the desert in a lawn chair with a cocktail.

It's all good.

And I am all... -sarah silverman voice- whooooaaaaaaa oohhhhh! -/sarah silverman voice- over this huge board. Wow! huge!

Oh, and as long as we're on the topic, May 10 is the deadline for the whoppin' $20 camp dues. *cough* just, you know, in case that's important.

- Norm

ladonnahoo · Post by **ladonnahoo** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:26 pm

I BURNED ALONE LAST YEAR. DONT EVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN BUT IT WAS EDUCATIONAL. I FOUND OUT WHAT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE. I TRAVELLED THERE WITH A FELLOW BURNER WHO HAD OTHER CAMPMATES WHO WERE NOT ACCEPTING ANYONE NEW IN THEIR CAMP SO I JOINED A CAMP LOCATED IN AN AREA WHERE I THOUGHT ID LIKE TO BE. TURNED OUT TO BE 180 DEGREES AWAY FROM MY SINGLE FRIEND THERE. MY NEW CAMPATES WHOM I DID NOT NOW TOTALLY IGNORED ME MOST OF THE TIME SO I WAS BUMMED AND COULDN'T FIND MY CAMP THE FIRST 2 NIGHTS AND NEARL;Y FROZE TO DEATH W/O MY CLOTHES. I SURVIVED THE WEEK WITH 2 PIECES PVC PIPE, 1 TARP, 2 STRINGS SOLAR XMAS LIGHTS, 2 ICE CHESTS FILLED W/ICE., PLAYA COSTUMES, 1 SLEEPING BAG AND A BLOW UP MATTRESS, 7 GAL. WATER, 24 BOTTLES WATER, 2 BOTTLES PARTY MIX, 1 GAL. TEQUILA, 1 GALLON VODKA, 2 BOTTLES JUICE, 7 BAGS TRAIL MIX AND 7 CANS POPTOP RAVIOLI. I MOSTLY GAVE THE LIQUOR AWAY AND ONLY ATE 4 CANS OF RAVIOLI AND 4 BAGS TRAIL MIX.
LADONNA (HOOLA) IN SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA

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