Wisconsin Burner Virgins!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:31 am

Hi y'all!

My sweetie and I first heard about Burning Man about 20+ years ago in [i]Psychology Today[/i] magazine, we think. We thought it was the coolest thing EVER, but then didn't really hear any more about it until recently. A friend of mine went last summer (he'd been there in about '96, too), which made us realize IT WAS STILL GOING! I said, "Wow, Burning Man is on my bucket list." And HE said, "Really? It's on MY bucket list." So, we decided to go! Our younger daughter will be home from college this summer, so I mentioned that we were planning this, in case she might be interested... She said, "BURNING MAN?!!! YOU'RE GOING TO BURNING MAN?!!! OMG!!" Or words to that effect. So, she's on board, too. :-)

We've read and reread the virgin guides, started an extensive food and packing and car/trailer checklist, and started stocking up on gear we didn't already have for camping:
-- Solar shower tent
-- SPF shade structure
-- Camp kitchen
-- Lots of blinky/LED/solar lights & lanterns
-- Windproof, SPF umbrellas
-- Cowboy hats
-- Headlamps

And we're planning some more fun stuff:
-- A granny bike quadcycle (http://www.thegrannybike.com/) with an umbrella kit
-- El wire jackets
-- Costumes...

Our goal is to be "hidden" virgins--we want to be fully self-reliant so we don't need to be rescued.

Oh, and we've hooked up with the fantastic Burner group in our area--the folks from Snowflake Village. They ROCK! So, we have snowflake decorations and such in their honor. :-)

We're bringing our Gypsy wagon, which is an RV we built ourselves for Civil War reenacting. I read hands and Tarot cards.

Can't wait to meet all of you, and could happily spend WEEKS here reading all the posts!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:46 am

Welcome to eplaya Bing.

I left the cold Wi. over 50 years ago.. Now live gawds counrty Or.. It's a 500 mile trip to Burning Man for me.. See ya on the playa..

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:48 am

I've been TRYING to leave WI for 40 years since I got here! But my sweetie works for the state, so no luck so far. ;-)

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:48 pm

I lived in Iowa before moving to Oregon, and I know it has been brutal there this year. I now live 200 miles from the playa. I wanted to go for a long time and after I moved here I had no reason or excuse not to go. Too close. Sounds like you're doing your homework. You cant be too prepared.

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 3:50 pm

Planning obsessively for a trip is half the fun!

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:25 am

Cowboy hats with a chinstrap or tie, otherwise you'll be playing 100 yard Hat Dash.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:29 am

AntiM wrote:Cowboy hats with a chinstrap or tie, otherwise you'll be playing 100 yard Hat Dash.

Or a climbers lanyard cliped from collor to hat.. WE use then while ballooning..

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:32 am

Cowboy hat with chin strap. Check!

I've always wanted to go ballooning. It's on the bucket list--along with Burning Man. We used to have a neighbor who crewed for the local group so she could go up. It's so amazing to watch a large lift off. Someday, it would be cool to go to the huge one in Santa Fe. Maybe when I win the HGTV house!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:04 pm

Bling wrote:Cowboy hat with chin strap. Check!

I've always wanted to go ballooning. It's on the bucket list--along with Burning Man. We used to have a neighbor who crewed for the local group so she could go up. It's so amazing to watch a large lift off. Someday, it would be cool to go to the huge one in Santa Fe. Maybe when I win the HGTV house!

My youngest girl is the one with the ballooning bug.. She has crewed and flown all over the world.. People call her from everywhere..She is a international driver (can drive eather side of the road) and qualified pilot.. She has taken some pretty good hits (trees, power lines and hard landings) without to much whining..

Myself, I don't like UP!! I like to crew and chase and repair stuff.. Not about to fly in a straw basket.. Maybe a basket on my way to hell, who knows

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:14 pm

I'm kind of wondering about the heights thing, and figuring I might be okay since there's be a basket underneath in a balloon. My sweetie and my daughter have both gone skydiving. No way would I step out of a perfectly good airplane!