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

[gyre]

I thought if you lived in northern california it wasn't optional?

[Savannah]

Hi Desire'e!

[theCryptofishist]

many people don't think this fish is particularly nice--just a warning.

[charlie97229]

Hi, I am from Portland, OR. I am Charlie if you know a Charlie call me Charles if you know a Charles call me Chuckie if you know a Chuckie call me Chuck if you know a Chuck call me Chuckles if you know a Chuckles call me God. Any way, call me what ever you want of the above and I will answer to any of them.

This will be my first year year at burning man. I need to know where I can pitch my tent. It is a canvas single pole tent ie (looks like a TP). It can withstand 55 MPH wind gusts (two weeks ago in Arizona) long night. I need to know what camp I can pitch my tent in. I have a jeep and a very small trailer so I have a need for the small amenities.

I HAVE AN OPEN SEAT IN MY JEEP. i do not want to be alone. If you are nice and cute and have a BM ticket I can take you with me and back to Portland or Eugene where ever you are along the way. I will start a thread called "thumbs up"

"THIS PLAYA SUCKS" so I am going to buy a vacuum cleaner and plug it into my little generator and see how many pounds of Playa I can suck up before it quits on me. I am going to weight it all. I am guessing 200 lbs the basic lifetime of a normal vacuum cleaner. If you have a certain brand or type you want me take let me know LESS THAN 10 AMPS. (no pre-fan bagging.. everything has to go through the fan).

I am public friendly and derby savvy. Is there going to be a roller rink there? I want to do some derby skating.

I work with crowds well and would gladly serve everyone coffee all night long.

[dragonpilot]

Hi Charlie!

The playa encampment area is first come first served, the exception being those areas reserved for registered theme camps which are marked by small colored flags. That said, you can pitch your tent anywhere you like...it's a great way to make new friends and neighbors.

Be forewarned...your comments about reserving a jeep seat for someone cute is not going to sit well with much of the eplaya crowd...establishing rules of conduct are one thing...limiting the physical attributes of a travel mate is exclusive...read The Ten Principles of Burning Man (http://www.burningman.com/whatisburning ... iples.html), especially #1.

[Savannah]

Hi Charlie! Dragonpilot gave you good advice.

You'll be given a map at the Greeter's station when you come in (one stop after Gate, where they take your ticket). Use the map to avoid theme camp areas. If you want a theme camp, see the "2013 Theme Camps" forum or click "Regionals" on the main site and meet some locals. The range in amenities provided is broad. Some camps provide a lot and ask a reasonable amount of work/fees in return; some are only about having social ties and are inexpensive or free. Be careful to choose something that fits you, and write them a nice PM or email.

[Ratty]

Hi Charlie, Welcome to Eplaya. What did you mean by, "so I have a need for the small amenities". You lost me. Anyway, where you camp is not important. It's what you do after you get there. Your neighbors will be your new best friends. Pick out a volunteer job that suits you. Welcome, and dig in to all of the knowledge and advice offered. (But do your homework first.)

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe Body Czech can give him an education...

[T-Ray-K]

Hello Future Friends,

It looks like I'm finally going to go to Burning Man this year!!! I'm on a 6 month US road trip and Burning Man will fit perfectly in my schedule. I'm Couchsurfing the majority of my trip, and as luck would have it I was hosted by a couple of burners that convinced me I couldn't miss the opportunity. You can probably find me lurking on the theme camp and playa prep boards.

Thanks! Does anybody have any questions?
Thomas

[Savannah]

Sure. Where are you from? What are your hobbies? What's your favorite cold drink?

[theCryptofishist]

How are you going to get a shade structure, a bike, a tent, a bedroll, water, and enough food for a week in on a couch?

[Savannah]

Maybe it's a really big couch, with wheels on.

[ygmir]

Where's Bob?

[theCryptofishist]

Maybe it's a really big couch, with wheels on.

He better have an invitation from the DMV.

[Savannah]

Where's Bob?

Having a shade structure, a bike, a tent, a bedroll, water, and enough food for a week stuffed down his cushions.

[T-Ray-K]

Wow this board is way active Lets start one by one
From: North Carolina
Hobbies: Voice acting/accents, photography and disc golf
Cold drink: Probably a smoothie

I'm driving around the country in my trusty station wagon (Gretchen), so all my supplies should fit in her ample bosom. As for shade, I'm trying to feel out a couple of groups to camp with or I might build a monkey hut. I'm also camping around the country, the Couchsurfing comment was just to explain how I decided to participate this year.

Thanks for all the questions folks

[Ratty]

Welcome t-ray-k, This part of your adventure will definitely impress. Lurk alot and you'll find tips to help you on all of your journey.
can't wait to share smoothies with you.

[FTTraveler]

Hello Everyone

My name is Ivan, I am a traveler have been my whole life lived in many places, visited many more. I am finishing up my time here in the Middle East it has been a interesting experience to say the least. Now I am headed back to the US and planning a cross country trip making stops in many places and hoping that Burning man will be one of those stops.

I am a writer, poet by pure passion, a quiet and shy computer geek and in some ways a hopeless romantic. I am looking forward to share my passion with others and to see what others are passionate about.

Burning Man 2013 will be my first one, I am equally nervous and excited to go. I plan to drive from the northeast and drive across the country all the way to the BM and the continue my journey onward around the rest of the country.

Since this is my first one I would love to be part of a camp!!!!

I have already signed up for S.T.E.P, hoping that I get a ticket very soon.

[gyre]

Good luck, FT.

[Savannah]

Hi Ivan! Good luck in STEP!

Browse theme camps in the 2013 Theme Camps forum and look for something that suits your personality. (That way, working the bar or cleaning up or setting up or tearing down camp hopefully becomes fun.) Or click "Regionals" at the top right of the main site and meet folks in your area--but keep in mind your camp need not be a local one by any means. If you just want company and need little in the way of creature comforts, there are camps that do that as well. If you camp alone, you'll still have neighbors. Lots of ways to Burn . . .

Welcome to the board.

[FTTraveler]

Thanks Savannah and gyre

Savannah thanks for the wonderful advice. I have already emailed the local burning man group in VA, Hopefully I will hear something very soon if not I will attempt to contact another group.
I am looking forward to connecting with other burners as I become one myself.

Happy Burning.

[gyre]

There's a regional in nc.

http://www.transformus.com/

Might be useful
http://www.dirtysouthernburners.com/

[Jenks314]

Hi all !

We are a group of about 6-10 friends from Edinburgh in Scotland who are making our trip to BM in 2014 and doing a bit of exploring in America. We are all active couchsurfers and would warmly welcome people to come crash with us here and make friends to see and pick up any waifs and strays hitchhiking towards burning man next year.

As a group we are a bit of a mixed bag, but all love festivals and have been to many ranging from Wacken to Knochengorroch and hopefully Burning man.

Friends of Amanda.

Hope you all have a good time this year

Best wishes from bonny Scotland

[Savannah]

Hi Jenks!

Not sure where you'll be traveling from, but you can meet fellow Burners through regional groups:
http://regionals.burningman.com/

Welcome!

[gyre]

Active and couch?
Okay

You may find burning man a little different.

[theCryptofishist]

If you don't even know how many of you there are, you're going to have a difficult time budgeting...

[Ratty]

gyre, couch surfers. Not couch potatoes.

[gyre]

Shredding will be different, anyhow.

[FTTraveler]

Hi T-Ray-K
HI Desire'e
Hi Charlie

T-Ray what part of NC you from? I used to live in VA.

[oly14]

Hello, I'm Mark. As a SF bay area resident, I had heard of Burning Man but I didn't really know what it was. I had an idea but it was so wrong (that's another story). Earlier this year a Burning Man mention on sports radio of all places, and my mention of the radio comment to a friend, led me down the path of learning what Burning Man really is. What I found both horrified and fascinated me. Burning Man isn't just a little outside my comfort zone, it's many steps over the line. Ultimately, fascination trumped horror and here I am.

The friend that piqued my BM interest told me to start asking around, I might be surprised who I know that's been. Indeed, an old business partner has gone the last few years and agreed to "watch my back" on my first exploration. I mentioned my plans to my younger brother and he has been hooked as well. So now our camp now has three.

My brother and I are having a great time planning and preparing our camp. We're reading ePlaya like men possessed and learning a lot (thanks to all for sharing so generously). My old business partner is giving us some preparation tips but he doesn't want to give too much away, he wants us discover as much of the wonder as we can on our own. Of the many things that we'll experience, I'm thinking it will also be a great opportunity for two brothers that live many miles apart to connect in a way we never have before.

I'm doing my best to get involved early through "Support A Project" and I've connected with my regional group and actually spent Saturday working on their CORE project.

Of course, I'll keep reading all the great information on ePlaya while anxiously awaiting my introduction to the playa when we finally arrive in BRC.

Mark