Mojojita wrote:My hubby and I are two of those seen leaving the playa on Saturday before the burn. We had already been on the playa for over two weeks and over the years we have learned that our experience of Burning Man has become much more about the work we do there and the people we love, new friends and old, than it is about the big burns or the dance camps. I think there are more veterans among the "early exit" than scared off tired virgins.
I would have to agree with this, even though I do not really consider myself a "veteran" per say. I started in going in 2009 and people I camped with that year arrived early, worked their asses off, partied until Saturday morning and then took off. There were a still a few people in the camp Saturday night but most had cleared out by Sunday afternoon. They have been doing this for a few years before as well.
We had two virgins leave on Friday morning this year. She had actually "gone down" somewhere near center camp from dehydration and ended up in a med tent on Wednesday. She was OK, but completely done by Friday morning and they packed up and left.
Another long time camp member had two tickets but has been overwhelmed by work, not show up at all. We thought he might blaze in Saturday just for the burn, but he didn't make it and ended watching the Ustream from Camp Envy (who rocks BTW).