Hello and Welcome... What's your name? Tell me about You...

[Ratty]

That sounds great! try and coordinate ahead of time with as many of your fellow travelers as possible. Share and share alike. Bring less stuff. I'm glad to hear that you're coming. Foreign burners always make me smile.

[Aurelia]

At yesterday's "Noobe" event in Golden Gate Park, I met a Noonbe called Bill who is coming in with 3 friends from his childhood in Denmark.

Strong Danish contingent this year !

We talked about the epiphany of facing the present in Black Rock City, while rekindling childhood alliances.

And what do you eat then ?
xoA.

[Savannah]

Congratulations & welcome, Lexy!

[kezpez]

Hello I'm Kez, from Down under -I'm an new Zealander living in Melbourne Australia and this will be my first burning man!
I bloody excited and can;t wait to get on the adventure.

I'll be traveling solo, arriving in SF at the start of August so looking for theme camp that may need helpers in the weeks leading up?
I'm an illustrator, handy on a sewing machine, very organised and hard working ! AND LOVE COSTUMES!
-If anyone has any useful theme camp links or meet up events for early August PLEASE POST!

thanks !

[Ratty]

Welcome Kez, Go to the burning man home page and search out the volunteer application. Get on the 'volunteer announce' email list and hook up with all sorts of things to do in SF before the burn starts. Also look at the coming events section. Here on eplaya browse through the fundraisers and local theme camps. Pick out as many as you can handle. They always need a hand.

[Savannah]

Hello I'm Kez, from Down under -I'm an new Zealander living in Melbourne Australia and this will be my first burning man!
I bloody excited and can;t wait to get on the adventure.

I'll be traveling solo, arriving in SF at the start of August so looking for theme camp that may need helpers in the weeks leading up?
I'm an illustrator, handy on a sewing machine, very organised and hard working ! AND LOVE COSTUMES!
-If anyone has any useful theme camp links or meet up events for early August PLEASE POST!

thanks !

Hi Kez!

The San Francisco regional group has a link here. Join up, and maybe you can network:
http://regionals.burningman.com/us_ca_sf.html

And here are some Bay Area Special Events:
http://www.burningman.com/blackrockcity ... sf_si.html

Or join a camp here, and meet up on the playa:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewforum.php?f=323

There's also The Spark, a collaboration site for Burners.
http://spark.burningman.com/

Welcome!

[heatherlbc]

Savannah; foam or stretch? or dear, must go read up... foam I think; with the 1" thick insulation panels, semi- preassembled Camp Danger style. Just received my tape today.

[Savannah]

Yes--that's what I mean by foam. All my friends who use them seem very happy.

(Stretch yurts have wooden frames with canvas covers. I've been inside one but they seem to be more rare than the other kind--on the playa, anyway.)

[gyre]

Re insulation
One inch foam is only R3 to R4.
The traditional desert tent can outperform that.
A proper double wall tent can match it.
The opacity is an advantage over a tent that isn't, of course.

[funguyeyzes]

Hello free thinkers, My name is Kris Zachreson born in Palo Alto grew up in San Mateo, ive been stuck in Utah for the last 12 years, dying to get out.. I love to dance I love women n

of all I love animals.... my username is funguyeyzes, going solo to my frist burn would love to follow some locals out. Much love burners Kris ps thanks for this opportunity:)

[Ratty]

Welcome funguy, Glad you are going to make it. Don't feel you HAVE to follow a group. When you get there you will have more than enough help and support. It will all become clear Grasshopper. Welcome to Eplaya.

[AntiM]

funguy, will you be going to Element 11? The Utah burn is terrific, and tickets will be selling out soon.

[Strata]

BearHug here, or Strata if you prefer, returning to the playa after a year off. I read eplaya but don't post much, looking forward to meeting some of the folks here at the meet and greet if I'm not on shift (I volunteer with ESD at the dispatch center). Pretty darn shy in person, so hoping to make some connections here in advance of the burn so I can feel like I know folks a little bit. I camp with the Station 9 folks, who are great, but people come and go alot so I don't know peeps at that camp as well as I'd like yet.

So, um, "hi" and I'll see you out there in the dark with a bright EL-wire labcoat I started sewing today. Big hugs for all comers, because even shy people love to hug.

[msj2u]

Hiya Bearhug,

Welcome to eplaya! I agree even shy people need a hug!

MSJ (hugggs ya now because I'll never find you on the playa)

[trilobyte]

Welcome out of the shadows, Bearhug! If you haven't already happened upon this thread, check out Brody's awesome tips for shy people at Burning Man thread. I know a few people who work quite a few shifts at station 9, hopefully I'll get to run into you out there as well as the Meet & Greet. I hope you have a completely uneventful burn in the ESD department, and over-the-top awesome/exciting year off-duty

[Savannah]

Hi Strata! See you at the Meet & Greet--and quite possibly station 9!

[Strata]

Hi msj2u, Trilobyte, and Savannah!

Thanks for the pointer to Brody's shy resources. It's awesome, and I'll be taking that advice to heart this burn.

What are your "don't miss it" burn activities? I'm really looking forward to the WhatWhenWhere coming out so I can make my list of things to try to go to. I never get to everything but I love having the list so I know I have things to do if (ha!) I feel restless and in need of something to do.

cheers and hugs,
BearHug

(I got my playa name after I'd already signed up with eplaya and didn't want to remake an account)

[Dr. Pyro]

Don't miss: The ePlaya Meet & Greet, Wednesday evening beginning at 6 p.m. at Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro. Bring something to share (food, drink, ice) and get ready for a real party.

<edit> We are not listed in the W-W-W guide.

[Savannah]

Good answer.

BearHug, I don't really have any others, other than the sunrise, or stuff that you're already doing.

If you want, you can send a PM to Trilobyte and request a name change.

[Aurelia]

Hello Strata
Bearhug or virtual ..it does all count

and I think shy is fine as well
xoA.

[Bubbles_n_hugs77]

Hello Burners of e-playa!

Dusty hugs to you all. I am Bubbles. This year will be the 6th burn for me. First burn was in 2001. I don't make it out every year, but when I do, I always have a blast!!!! Counting down the days till it's time to head home. My tickets arrived today in the mail and I am psyched!! This will be the first year that I'll be rogue camping.. no theme camp affiliation. Just want to see how that will go. Any tips or ideas? Radical self reliance has never been an issue. I always come prepared!

[Savannah]

Hi Bubbles! I've caught a rideshare in but then camped "alone" before. I liked it! Had neighbors, of course. I just visited nearby friends when I wanted to, and retreated to the silence when I wanted to recharge, and just generally enjoyed myself quite a bit.

I'm sure you'll introduce yourself to your neighbors, and you've been coming a long time, so . . . I don't think there's anything I can tell you.

[Good]

Hi everyone =)

Call me Good. I'm a virgin burner from Vancouver, BC! I've actually been avoiding burning man for years assuming that it was 'just like any other festival'... but recently a friend told me she was going and she provided me with just enough information to question my preconceptions.

BOOM!

I'm so glad I took the time to read more about BM. I'm currently on the hunt for my tickets, and under the assumption that I'll find a way to get there this year I'm prepping like a madman

I'm an about-to-graduate RMT, but before this I was a mechanic. I've always loved to solve problems and fix/build things, and my personal brand of creativity focuses on efficiency - I'm outrageously excited to start putting together an art car for 2014/15.

I'm full of excitement and questions. I'll try not to get too annoying.
-Good

[gyre]

Hi Good!

I'm very interested in efficiency myself from superinsulation to hypermile highways.

You'll love the art cars.

Welcome to the least efficient society on the planet!

[Ratty]

Welcome Good. I'm glad your friend 'clued you in'. Most of the planet has a misconception about the event. Good thing.........it's hard enough to get tickets. Hang around and ask lots of questions. Glad to meetcha.

[PhoenixFemmeFatale]

Hi everyone! Me and my Hubby are first time burners this year. I heard about burning man from an article I read through Yahoo. I was immediately captivated! The art, the music, the oddities, the adventure.... It just speaks to me. My Hubby and I take one vacation sans kids every year. This year it's burningman! We live in Southern Arizona. When I'm not being a Mother, I work part time as a Laser Eye Technician. I have to admit.... Eplaya is my new full time hobby. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive. When I'm not couch surfing, I love to cook, experiment with nail art, paint, craft, and garden. I've learned A LOT from all the other Eplayans the past several months. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge! On that note:
Ratty- you are an inspiration! You are so creative and I am in aw at the skills you have when it comes to recreating clothes and your Pinterest board is BOSS! Love it!
Savannah - you are always positive and kind to others on the board. You are a welcoming personality on Eplaya!
Gyre- you seem to have a lot of valuable information! I am impressed by the depths of your knowledge and your quick wit!
CryptoFishist - you got balls! I love your dry humor and sarcastic play on words! You're very clever and I love seeing what trouble you're going to stir up next.
Trilobyte- love seeing the progress of your mega-structure! You've got big plans and MAD woodcarving skills/plans. I cannot WAIT to see it on the playa.
DrPyro- thanks for all the valuable info and the quick response to questions from a newbie like myself.
AntiM - cannot wait to see your home for wayward art!

You all rock! Cannot wait to meet you all at BRC (if I'm lucky).

[gyre]

Shucks, Phoenix, the secret is a forum full of straight lines.

Welcome to it all!

[theCryptofishist]

*blushes*
Thak you.

[Ulan]

Hello,

My name is Ulan McKnight. I came to Burning Man for the first time last year (2012). This was a transformative experience for me. I was amazed by all of the public artwork. In college I studied mechanical engineering but never took a job after school in it. As such, I haven't really built anything using my engineering studies for over 20 years. Within 6 hours of getting to Burning Man I knew I was going to build a mutant vehicle.

Then I hung out for a day with Ian who's crew built Movement of Jah People. I was so inspired by their kindness that I promised Ian I would return next year with a vehicle I had built so we could ride around together. Our crew is well on our way.

http://unaverz.com/

I can't wait to see everyone up at the Playa this year

[Coreysm]

Hello, my name is Corey. This will be my first Burn. I am really excited to go. I am hoping to meet up with some people before going out to help prepare. I love art and music. I like making art out of whatever materials are handy.I am making paintings to gift at Burning Man. I love learning and experiencing new things.