I want to come, but I'll be alone...

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:49 am

So I have hit up two festivals this summer... Bonnaroo and Rothbury. Both were fantastic, psychedelic experiences that have changed my life for the better. After my experiences with these two festivals, I feel like I'm not ready to quit. I want to experience the sensory overload I get at festivals one last time this year...

So I'm doing it... or at least, I hope I am. I'm going alone, though. My last two experiences, I at least had a companion with me.

To be honest, it's kind of scary. I don't know ANYONE going to burning man, but I'm the kind of guy that will get sucked into these things and just let the wind take me where it will.

But I'm nervous.

Is it unheard of for a virgin to come alone for his first burn? Add to that, I'm going to be driving from Louisiana... that's hours and hours and hours of driving. But I feel like in the end, all this driving and all this struggling will be for the better once burning man actually happens.

So my questions are far less technical and far more subjective..

How are the stars out on the Playa? Are they beautiful? Is there too much light pollution, or will I see the milky way?

Are people generally responsive to taking someone completely new to this whole event in? Or is it completely radical self reliance, where I will be expected to fend for myself completely? I understand the spirit, but I don't think I will enjoy the event as much unless I find a few buddies to experience it with (I'm a very social person.).

Like I said, I'm just nervous. It'll be the most spontaneous, independent thing I've ever done.

magicmarty · Post by **magicmarty** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:06 am

Fear not, You will be just fine. Read the Survival Guide and bring plenty of water. You will find that folks are really warm and accepting and you should make many friends quite easily. I went solo in my virgin year last year and had a great time. And I'm certain that I'm a hell of a lot older than you!

(To the tune of "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from the show "South Pacific") There is nothing like a burn, nothing in this world etc, etc. Bet most of you never heard of the great musical Broadway show "South Pacific" pity, you missed a great one!!!

At any rate, "you have nothing to fear but fear it self" Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first inaugural address in 1932 at the nadir of the Great Depression!

Enjoy!!!

marty

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:14 am

Thank you SO much for the response. I am pretty firmly convinced that I'm going to take the red pill and jump into the rabbit hole, if you know what I mean. Man, what a journey this will be for me... but then again, what a summer this HAS been for me. I've done more with this summer than I have with my entire life.

So I guess now, all I need to do is find a theme camp or a group of people to join up with. I think that would definitely serve to heighten my experience, as I'd have a group of people I could default to socializing with. People are my comfort, so I guess doing this thing alone is sort of antithetical to me... but from what I understand, if you are telling me correctly, you are never alone on the playa, right?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:21 am

Just talk to people.

Burning man is the kind of place people take drugs because they aren't there.
If you explore and think you need drugs, you aren't trying hard enough.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:49 am

Swing by the Regional Network Info Post near Center Camp on Saturday- Your rep Anthony's got the Noon-2:00 shift. Earlier in the week swing by Media Mecca or Recycle Camp or more or less ANYWHERE in Center Camp and say "I'd like to help" and watch the enthusiastic results. Lamplighters is one volunteer opp I've always wanted to look into but somehow haven't gotten to yet- Might be a cool thing for a Noob to try since it gets you out and about in BRC with a big, cool bunch of folks. Or head out to any of the playa art projects- There's always SOMETHING that needs doing.
I applaud your decision to get in the car and GO! It's a long drive, but this is a GREAT year to see a chunk of America. I love my 2100 mile drive...uh, mostly.
See you soon.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:57 am

The stars are sometimes the most incredible thing.

Really important things we ultimately always experience alone, in spite of all our good comrades.

whyrd · Post by **whyrd** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:18 am

supernovaky wrote:How are the stars out on the Playa? Are they beautiful? Is there too much light pollution, or will I see the milky way?

Are people generally responsive to taking someone completely new to this whole event in? Or is it completely radical self reliance, where I will be expected to fend for myself completely? I understand the spirit, but I don't think I will enjoy the event as much unless I find a few buddies to experience it with (I'm a very social person.).

Like I said, I'm just nervous. It'll be the most spontaneous, independent thing I've ever done.

The stars are wonderful, but it's usually the mountains that get me every time. Also, if you're as social as you say, you'll have no problems at all. Just be friendly, welcoming, helpful, and/or giving and you'll find new friends without a problem.

That said, go read the survival guide again, and possibly google up some packing lists for burning man to make _sure_ you've got what you need for a week of camping in the desert. Going alone is _much_ less forgiving, but don't be afraid to ask your neighbors if you realize you suddenly need a pair of pliers or a sledge or something that didn't make it into your car.

Above all, no preconceptions. Your burn will be both what it is and what you make of it, and trust me, it barely needs a nudge from you to be incredible.

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:09 am

Welcome! Be sure to stop by The Livers End Bar! Not sure where we'll be, but check with Playa Information when you get out there. It's an amazing, beautiful experience.

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:19 am

supernovaky

looks like you already have made a number of friends / contacts for the BM this year, just have a safe and liesure journey to BRC. It will be worth the effort.

The stars? Awesome!

Many a times I sat around camp during the hottest part of the day in the shade and struck up conversations with complete strangers, only to become good friends.

Have room in the car for a shrimp or soft crab po boy?

Fenwick

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:23 am

This is great. Thank ALL of you for your great responses, because they are serving more and more to get me to push the button, buy the ticket, and jet on out there. I have very few reservations left. I'm confident in my abilities to survive a 7 day camping ordeal, and I'll make sure that even if I forget something, I've got the basics... food, water, shelter. Everything after that, well, that's comfort. I'm a master at improvisation if worst comes to worst :D.

As for the drugs, I'm not a "druggie" in the sense that I don't go around festivals asking to buy or sell drugs. However, "Turning on, Tuning in" is my way of integrating fantastic sensory overloads into my day to day life, and while burning man has certainly got turning on down, I'm probably going to tune in once or twice during the whole occasion. I hope none of you judge me for this... I still don't really have a feel for how prevalent these kinds of activities are out there.

One thing I am looking SO forward to is the landscape views. The natural surroundings. I'm a geology buff, so I am reading like crazy about the area... that way once I am there, I can lay back, look all around me, and get in tune with the earth itself. I want to feel and see such an ancient land.

The stars... I'm so glad that it is dark enough to see the stars. Like, if I went FAR out, near the border, and laid back, would you say it's dark enough to see some shooting stars? The milky way band?

I'm an intellectual at heart, about to get into writing, after this incredible summer, and I have a feeling that this festival will kick me into high gear.

I appreciate the suggestion on volunteering. If I volunteer, it will probably be more free-lance, helping others pitch tents and whatnot.

As far as gifting goes, I have a question...

Can I use art for gifting and trading? I have a lot of my wife's original art that she is sending me there with if I decide to go.

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:26 am

[quote]Have room in the car for a shrimp or soft crab po boy?
[/quote]

I can bring a few up if you'd like. It could be a fairly cool gifting item, huh?

My father also makes killer gumbo that I can keep frozen until needed :)

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:39 am

Tons of stars. Yes, you can see the Milky Way and shooting stars, satellites, A few years ago I brought a telescope for a friend. Amazing. During the day, the desert is so vast you can actuall see the curvature of the Earth. Unfortunately, we won't have a full moon, but the lights in the sky are magnificent.

As far as gifting, don't get too caught up in it. Your presence, friendliness, stories, help with watever (food sounds awesome) would make wonderful gifts which would be appreciated but not required.

Whatever you do to make the experience your own is accepted as long as you don't interfere with other people's experience in a negative way. I'm not sure what you mean by "turning on," but there is a lot of recreational "activity" out there. I'd just be careful about who you attempt to acquire things from. We've had neighbors who thought they were talking to a cute, young, hot little burner chick who turned out to be an undercover cop. There are many different things to be found out there. If you have specific questions, feel free to send me a private message and I'll give you more information.

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 11:50 am

:) Turning on, Tuning in, Dropping out.

It's from Timothy Leary, who I honestly disagree with on 99% of things, save for this statement.

1) Turn on. Go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment.
2) Tune in. Interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives.
3) Drop out. An elective, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments.

Much of this seems to be exactly what Burning Man is about.... externalize, mterialize, express yourself, and bring back changes to the global community at large.

And yeah, I'm a man of the stars. We are all made of star dust after all, and I look up to them to gain inspiration when I need it.

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:01 pm

Oh, another question...

I had a friend bring a GPS to Rothbury.
It worked out GREAT for him. He could find his tent and waypoint all of his friends so that they were easy to find.

Sound like a good idea?

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:54 pm

Your bringing gumbo - even better~~~

"Controlled substances" on the playa - must be an urban legend or something - no need - be naturally high

As for the art you described, might take up too much room in the car- and I am sure it is special, but random passing of selected peices to folks might create a difficulty on their part, like where to store it, while at BRC.

But who knows, might find a fan or two of your wife's work

GPS??

optional

The city is laid out using a clock as a way to identify streets that project from the center to the fringes (2:30, 4:30, 9:00.....) Streets that form rings around the clock have names, like "Gremlin". Once you arrive - look for the nearest intersection, for example 4:00 and G - that will always get you home if you manage to remember that....

Gumbo - sounds better the more I salivate about it....

Let the Good times roll....

Fenwick

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:02 pm

Haha.

Alright. I'm highly considering taking a big frozen batch of my fathers gumbo and briging it up :)

fenwick · Post by **fenwick** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:11 pm

Alright. I'm highly considering taking a big frozen batch of my fathers gumbo and briging it up

Easy to heat up in a pot exposed to the sun should only take a few short hours and everybody downwind be drooling

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:46 pm

supernovaky wrote:So I have hit up two festivals this summer... Bonnaroo and Rothbury. Both were fantastic, psychedelic experiences that have changed my life for the better.

Wow, I've never heard of those. Say more, maybe I go to these instead next year

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:20 pm

supernovaky wrote: So I'm doing it... or at least, I hope I am. I'm going alone, though.

You might be going alone, but you won't BE alone.

talenamay · Post by **talenamay** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:47 pm

I was a solo female virgin last year, and I did fine. Never really been camping before, either. I'm more of what you call an "indoor girl."
You're right about food, water, and shelter, make sure you have those. Take it easy your first day or two and get comfortable with your surroundings. Make friends with neighbors who have a couch. Hang out at Center Camp, volunteer, clean up moop in the outer playa.

I planned, packed, and drove myself. I have never felt so free.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:52 pm

Burningman is like a foreign country. It makes people look at the world differently because they realize that people are different creatures than what our society makes us. You should go trying to blend in with the culture but also knowing that YOU ARE the culture. It's hard to explain, but after a day or two you'll get a better understanding of how others are and how you are.

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:13 pm

[quote="MikeVDS"]Burningman is like a foreign country. It makes people look at the world differently because they realize that people are different creatures than what our society makes us. You should go trying to blend in with the culture but also knowing that YOU ARE the culture. It's hard to explain, but after a day or two you'll get a better understanding of how others are and how you are.[/quote]

Major deja vu. I really think I'm meant to come to this thing. It's what I'm looking for after summer of soul searching at festivals with more eye candy than I believe my human brain can ever hold

ScrogFather · Post by **ScrogFather** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:40 pm

I see people are putting there orders in, I would like to order a Bananas Foster( from Petunias). I am also a virgin going by myself. I think, I mean I know, we are in good hands. See ya on the Playa!

supernovaky · Post by **supernovaky** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:17 am

This may be a bit of an odd question, but are there any Tattoo artists on the Playa? I'd love to get my first ink there.

Funky Monkey Mech · Post by **Funky Monkey Mech** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:58 am

Bad idea.... check out the thread below this topic already has bin talked about.... plus i don't think there is even anywhere to get a tattoo out there....

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ht=tattoos

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:23 am

you are DOOMED, motherfucker, all of these people are lying.....

they only want to eat your brains and have sex with your earlobes.

STAY AWAY! STAY FAR FAR AWAY!

it's a trap, and this year, we FINALLY drink the fucking Kool-Aid.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:17 am

Consider Antim's Home for Wayward Art.
She's around here somewhere.

If you use a gps, it needs to be one that registers programmed locations.
Someone is doing a map for them.
Some just do streets.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:53 pm

supernovaky wrote:This may be a bit of an odd question, but are there any Tattoo artists on the Playa? I'd love to get my first ink there.

I wouldn't. Some people have trouble healing on the playa. And if there's any sort of physical malaise or post poking pain, that might just interfere with your enjoyment.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:37 pm

After your return from Burning Man your attitude will make it just as obvious to everyone around you as if you had a tatoo.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:33 am

BM keep me from leaving human shaped holes in walls. as i run through them.

I could scrape shit off the walls of septic tanks for 5 bucks an hour as long as BM was at the end to relieve my stress of the default world yearly.

My problem is that its only a week. Friday I am going to hold everyone up at gunpoint and make them stay.

Come alone? I would walk alone if i had to to be there.

I want to come, but I'll be alone...

I want to come, but I'll be alone...

Thank you

Re: I want to come, but I'll be alone...

Re: I want to come, but I'll be alone...

Re: I want to come, but I'll be alone...

Don't worry about going alone.