Hoka-hey from North Jersey!

[Guy Freeman]

It feels a little odd making introductions when, from my deep-lurking perspective, I've been hanging with you all for... oh dear god, so much longer than any of us care to imagine, but now is certainly the time for it.

I figured out that Burning Man existed sometime around '95, basically by lurking on the internet at large. After stumbling across enough cryptic diary entries and phantasmagorical photographs and obscure forums, all of which seemed to speak to something inside me, I eventually hit a critical mass and connected the dots, and decided that come hell or high water I would one day walk the playa with the family I hadn't even known I had.

But then, until about two years ago, I spent my life being the consummate good little boy, putting aside frivolities like festivals and parties to accomplish everything society taught me a good little boy should want to accomplish. Once I finally got over all that learned insanity I found myself at a crossroads, able to choose pretty much whatever direction I wanted. Given that I'd never stopped keeping up with the burn since I found it, the choice was obvious to me, and with New York right next door it's been easy for me to jump in and get my feet wet.

These days I'm active in the NYC community, working and partying with the local camps, and I'm a founding member of a camp of my own, Digital Native. If you've been to Disorient's Country Club or the PEX Summer Fest this year you've probably met us; maybe you've even met me. Next year we're at Frostburn, Freeform, Country Club, Summer Fest and the playa, and in the meantime we're throwing fundraiser events for our artists and equipment needs - like tonight's End of The World party in Brooklyn.

So as I said, now's definitely the time for me to delurk. I'm really happy to be here, and I want you all to know that over the years, your forums have played no small part in keeping my dreams alive long enough for me to finally live them. Thanks for ePlaya, and thanks for having me!

[Savannah]

Wow, great introduction.

Welcome to the board.

You're so active I'm not 100% sure whether you've been to the Black Rock Desert yet, or whether your Burns have all been regionals.

[Ugly Dougly]

Hoka Hey to you too, Guy. Are you Lakota?

[trilobyte]

Welcome aboard! You're in some fine company with the local folks you've connected with already. Good luck with pulling the big adventure together, and hope to see you out there.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[lucky420]

Hola and hello...

[Guy Freeman]

Hoka Hey to you too, Guy. Are you Lakota?

I'm not, but well spotted. I like unique expressions and that one's been with me for a while now.

[Guy Freeman]

Wow, great introduction.

Welcome to the board.

You're so active I'm not 100% sure whether you've been to the Black Rock Desert yet, or whether your Burns have all been regionals.

I will finally burn on the playa next year, thanks in no small part to my supportive campmates and the love and help we've gotten from other local camps. Until recently I wasn't an outdoors kind of guy at all, but I've discovered I'll put up with the vagaries of nature if it means I get to be among my people.

[Ugly Dougly]

Hoka Hey to you too, Guy. Are you Lakota?

I'm not, but well spotted. I like unique expressions and that one's been with me for a while now.

Right on, life is short! Hope to meet you in the dust someday!

[9ah]

Holas and welcome. Not sure I made it to DN at PEX, but I'll keep it on my radar for 2013 as well as on the playa.

[jcliff]

Nice to have you here! Sounds about time that you make it to the BIG BURN!

[Guy Freeman]

9ah, at PEX we were "uptown" in the car camping area, and on playa we'll be neighbors with Disorient. I'm sure we'll bump into you sooner or later if we haven't already