Do you tell people where you're going?

[Mulligan]

Scenario: You blurt out that you're going on vacation. They ask, "where?" What do you say? Do you tell them Burning Man, do you tell them generically camping, family reunion, etc. Do you try to explain what it means?

Feel free to leave comments...

[Fire_Moose]

mostly ill tell people im going to BM


Sometimes just "Northern Nevada"

[mudpuppy000]

All my close friends and family know and are probably sick of me mentioning it, lol. Everyone else I just say I'm going to a big art festival out in the desert.

[geekster]

I tell people I am going to be away for a while. If they want to know where, I tell them.

Of course, certain people have to know. My boss, the folks watching the kids, etc.

[Eric]

I'm in SF- people are either going, planning to go or sick of it. Either way, you take vacation that week everyone assumes you're going to the Burn.

[Ugly Dougly]

In case you disappear, they know where to start the search.

[ConnieH]

If it's someone I don't know very well and I may need to tread carefully with, like a coworker, I generally say I'm going camping in the desert. If they give me a horrified look and ask, "why in the DESERT?" I say because it's fun and challenging, then drop it. Some people I've said that to think for a minute then I see the light bulb go off and they start asking intelligent questions...those ones I tell. Some people I tell straight out because I really don't care if they know or not, or what their reaction might be. My boss knows, but he refers to it around the office as my "vacation in the desert"

We've been asked by several neighbors lately what the heck we are building in the back yard, so I tell them - surprisingly (or maybe not), most of them have heard of BM and have friends who have gone, and there's one neighbor who has been a few times. Those neighbors get invited to the pre-party

[Trishntek]

Everybody except the guy I'm renting the RV from.

[Sham]

I always hear, "are you going to that thing in Arizona again"? My reply, "yes"!

[theCryptofishist]

Heck, I announce at staff meeting that I need wayward art...

[AntiM]

Like I can shut up about it.

I did tell my oncologist I was going to a family reunion in 2004. She scheduled brachytherapy instead of traditional radiation so I'd be done (I qualified and she was pushing for it anyway). She figured it out though, she's kinda sharp that way.

[much2naughty2]

I love to tell people where we're going. The shocked look is worth a million bucks. We over whelmed them with info until they get to the point of avoiding us or the topic. Made us promise to not try to get nudie pictures put on the I-net that would ruin their lives.

Two weeks to go and I can hardly sleep or have a moment without plans for BM going through my mind. We've taken three practice trips, one a full week, and one a couple days in the dunes at 106 degrees. I think we're ready.

[snake]

i say 'going to burningman! yay!' ...i'm not 'ashamed' of it, i proudly tell them and they usually are interested and have questions.
one the white board where we put annual/sick leave i draw the little bman figure.

[existential_renewal]

I've told most people who know me well enough and some of my co-workers, although the rumor that then started was that I was going on a pilgrimage to the desert to light myself on fire. Which always makes for an interesting conversation starter.

[mudpuppy000]

although the rumor that then started was that I was going on a pilgrimage to the desert to light myself on fire.

Hahahahaha

[mthyer]

I can't keep a secret to save my life any more. Not only do I share the information that I'm going. I humm about it while walking the dogs in the morning. Sing about it in the shower. Occasionally I leave little burning men on white boards in conference rooms around the office. :twisted:

Some people wear "Live Strong" bracelets, I think I need a tattoo that reads "Live Weird". And I’m really looking forward to this.

[shiznicks1]

I find out tomorrow if I can get the time off work. They wouldnt understand, so im in my sisters destination wedding that whole week and simply have to make it for my family's sake, fingers crossed it works.

[dr.placebo]

My family knows, my work knows, my neighbors know, my dog knows, and now you know, too.

[FaeTora]

Most of my friends and family know.

My job thinks I am camping in the desert. Not a complete lie. I will camping and its in the desert. The rest is none of their business and I need to keep my job right now.

[archeolojust]

I find this hilarious. I'm quicker to tell people I'm going to Burning Man than I am to tell them I'm going to my larp one weekend each month. I typically go with "camping" instead of explaining a larp to someone.

[Clar-i-ty]

I love to tell people where we're going. The shocked look is worth a million bucks...

It's even better when you tell them you take your kids!

I'll tell anyone who'll listen!

[Plumeria]

It really depends on who I am talking to. If it is a stranger or an acquaintance, it depends on if I want to explain BM or not. Just last week I was getting a nerve root block injection from my spine doctor (my last one wore off, at least it was now and now while in BRC). Anyway, I told him I was going camping in the desert in Nevada in a few weeks. He said that should be pretty. I said, well, a little dusty, but fun...I am going to BM. He started laughing, told me he as wanted to go for a long time. And, told me to call his nurse to schedule a long appointment for when I get back so I can do my normal check up and give him a report and show him pictures....Go figure! This guy is a highly well known doc up here in Seattle.... LOVE IT!

[Fire_Moose]

I find this hilarious. I'm quicker to tell people I'm going to Burning Man than I am to tell them I'm going to my larp one weekend each month. I typically go with "camping" instead of explaining a larp to someone.

Ahahahahah larper.

I'd be much more inclined to say Burning man over larping


another good thing to tell yer boss is "I'm going on a self betterment retreat"

[Playa Foot]

Everyone I know is aware that I go to Burning Man. Some wonder why one would want to spend a week with a bunch of hippies out in the desert and think I am a little bit strange. Others wish they could go too and are envious, they are the ones that know I am a little bit strange.

[Thecatman]

Everybody except the guy I'm renting the RV from.

Which is close to what I told a Uhaul dealer when I rented a trailer in 07...
They asked what I needed it for and I said to go camping, they asked where? and I said the Black Rock Desert
My guess is they did'nt put two and two together

[illy dilly]

My friends and family know. This year my sister is coming, my Dad wants to come. But if Me, my dad, and my sister are all in the desert, who is going to feed everyone's pets?

One of my co-workers knows and give me shit, in a fun spirited way.
My bosses know 'I go to the desert' they call it my sabbatical. They know I party have fun, and will still be kinda fried when I come back to work the Wednesday after labor day. Though, everyone gets their Sabbatical around her. My buddy that jokingly gives me shit goes hunting for a week. Another guy goes camping/ATVing for a week. My one boss goes to Vegas for a week. Another packs up her daughter and nieces and drives to a different national monument each time. Around here there not treated as just Vacations either. Its each persons thing one week a year, were everyone else has to know they will be gone for that week, no questions asks. We may poke a little fun, but thats about it.

[kman]

All my close friends and family know and are probably sick of me mentioning it, lol. Everyone else I just say I'm going to a big art festival out in the desert.

Yup.

Depending on the person, and how much explaining I feel like doing, it's either "I'm going to Burning Man" or "I'm going to spend a week camping at an art festival in the Nevada desert".

Most people who get response #2 wouldn't know what I was talking about if I said Burning Man anyway. And sometimes, people who I tell I'm going to BM, clearly have no clue, so I elaborate with response #2.

Of course, if they're cool peeps, they either already know, or are eager to hear all about it.

[Rice]

Heh!!! I have no problem telling my work, friends, family, etc where I am going. Last night my boss and I had a wonderful discussion about the event and all of the crazy things that go on. I am fortunate that I work in such a burner friendly environment (I have even done presentations to the staff

Sometimes, I have noticed some people cover their ears & muter "I don't want to know"... But mostly, people are polite and tolerate my ramblings

[C187]

I tell people I'm going off to yell at hippies for a week or so.

[VeganChoirGirl]

My work thinks I am at an anual family reunion in Oregon.

Everyone else knows. They either are going to, have always wanted to go...but haven't yet, or want me to shut the fuck up about burning man.