**ANXIETY**

[junglesmacks]

So here we are yet again.. less than a week to go. My heart is pumping, my breath is getting.. short..?

OMG what if my LED lightsuit fails, what if I don't see all I want to see, what if I chicken out and don't go as deep as I want to and regret it later, what if the truck breaks down, what if I forget something major, what if I miss my flight, WAIT there's a frickin' CAT 4 HURRICANE the day before I'm to leave, what if I get sick, what if she gets sick, what if pony and I get in a fight out there, what if what if what if..

..what if we show up and no one else does?


Pre-burn anxiety hitting hard.. like haaaaaaard. You guys/gals doing ok with it? How are you coping?

[mazatta]

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU&ob=av2e

[trilobyte]

Relax. Take a few deep breaths. You have a reasonably good chance of survival.

[Raymaker]

My flight to the US is tomorrow I am at the OH MY GOD! how do I get all this stuff in one suitcase, how do I lift it up, i am even carrying the cooker as personal luggage onto the airplane, it comes in a briefcase sized bag.

[Maizie]

We drive out tomorrow .... definitely more anxious than excited at this point, but I am sure that will change once we get across the border. Plus, we have three days of driving and one day of shopping for me to remember all the stuff I am sure I forgot, haha!

[joya]

I'm desperately trying to heal this darn upper respiratory infection that hit me hard on Saturday. (Ironically it came on the day after I accidentally got a big ol' lung full of old playa dust from digging out our shade structure, tent, etc.) Ugh! Why now?!?

Other than that, my only slight concern is coordinating our set-up with and camping with a larger group (half being people I don't know) for the first time. Though I'm more excited than anxious about it.

Counting down the days!!!

btw junglesmacks, you're not gonna see everything you want to see, you and your girl might get in a fight, and your suit may never light... and I'm willing to bet you'll still have the Best Burn Ever!

[junglesmacks]

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU&ob=av2e

This actually helped a little



Whew.. the list keeps getting longer! Don't forget to clean all the perishables out of the fridge, don't forget to set the auto-responder on the email, don't forget to leave the key with the 'rents so that the plants get watered, oh crap WTF now my throat decides to hurt and I'm feeling sick-ish? Now the storm is moving a little farther offshore and it's supposed to be 12' perfect storm waves on Friday to surf? It's already Tuesday? CRAP last minute things off of Amazon and thank god for free 2 day shipping.

I need a drink. Is it 5pm yet?

[Captain]

I went through this for about the last due to all the sound and lighting gear I'm bringing etc... a couple of days ago I entered the "I don't what happens now phase", as long as I can get there I know all will be right with the burn.

[chrysalisica]

Glad I'm not the only one who is nervous. Being a virgin is the least of my worries--but my lack of Burn experience regarding preparation is contributing.

Will our van break down? Will we fight? Will we even see each other once we reach the Playa? Will we like our campmates (whom we've never met)? Did I buy enough beer? How much more money am I going to have to spend before we actually leave town? Have I been exercising enough to avoid feeling self-conscious in my scant clothing? Will we have enough batteries? food? bedding? funnels? tubs/buckets? rope? bungies? Will J actually finish the swamp cooler? Will my dog be okay while I'm gone? Will I make friends? Will I break my toe open on rebar?

Coping? Wine seems to help.

I think once the van is packed and we are on the road I'll be fine. Until then, I'm not sleeping much.

[Boijoy]

awesome thread Junglesmacks thanks.

& just to add .. arrgggg!! First time pulling a utility trailer behind my truck & I can't back it up!!! what if there is an accident & traffic is turned around & I can't back up!!?? What if a wheel comes loose or falls off or what if the trailer breaks free from my truck ???

Every flippin year something gets inside my head that won't allow me to enjoy the week prior to burning man. & seriously disturbes my sleep.

( btw, I refuse to read the thread on "towing a trailer". Im sure it will just freak me out )

[junglesmacks]

Sometimes it's just nice to know that we're not the only ones, right?

awesome thread Junglesmacks thanks.

[jsgarvin]

Last year I managed to get out the door and 95% of the way to the playa before realizing that my duffle bag with all of my underwear, socks, toothpaste, shaving cream, etc, etc was still sitting on the kitchen counter back home. I managed to employ some radical self reliance in Lakeview (which is a pretty sad place to try to buy underwear on a Sunday evening) and some additional radical self reliance on playa to have the Best Burn Ever. This year, I'm a little more relaxed about it.

So, my recommendation is to go ahead and forget stuff. It'll help you find out what you're really made of.

[AntiM]

I am so relaxed it is insane. No, not everything is done, but that's ok. I won't die.

[Ugly Dougly]

You are so fucking doomed.

[moonrise]

Oy! Junglesmacks the pragmatist, you'll be fiiiine...and everyone else will be also, just be sure to go over your lists, again and again (hurricanes delaying flights, buzz off, lol)

I'm waiting on ONE part for my truck, we rebuilt it and the trailer and a rad golfcart and now it's broken down in front of my house, musta missed that one little detail, uh! Also have to register trailer at the dmv, need truck for that, grrr...otherwise, Imma packing and repacking and ready to go...but NOT in nuetral, fucking truck, grrrr....

[AntiM]

You are so fucking doomed.

oh crap. where is my Fucking Doomed Radiation Badge? Jellyfish gave it to me ages ago.....

[illy dilly]

Stay busy!
There is no time to worry about what could go wrong. Just keep worrying about what isn't done yet!

[junglesmacks]

You mean no boating this week?!?

Stay busy!
There is no time to worry about what could go wrong. Just keep worrying about what isn't done yet!

[Savannah]

Motorboating, maybe.

[knowmad]

Doing just fine, just fine.
Then agian I come from a medical marajuana state.

[Savannah]

So what you're saying is . . . you are calm and serene, dare I say, even heady with the knowledge of the fact that you're living in a state with fair, reasonable, progressive, groovy-as-sin laws. I can't blame you.

[trilobyte]

Assume all those terrible things will happen, all at once. That way, if for some reason any or all of them don't, it'll be a nice surprise

[Ugly Dougly]

Make a list and check it again. That always works for me. Find something that you have some control over.

Because once you hit teh dust, ALL WILL BE LOST.

Just relax, you are in for an adventure!

[theCryptofishist]

...employ some radical self reliance in Lakeview (which is a pretty sad place to try to buy underwear on a Sunday evening)...

Can someone recommend a joyful place to buy underwear on a Sunday, or even Saturday, night?

[junglesmacks]

I think also it's important to differentiate in your own mind between anxiety and anticipation.

Really.. what I've got here is a whole shit ton of anticipation. I/you/we have alllllllllll been waiting for this moment for the last 51 weeks. I've dreamed about it, planned for it, lived it, ate it, talked about it, twisted 1440 LEDs with bleeding fingers for it, lost relationships over it, gained relationships because of it.. and that's all in quite a nutshell that doesn't do it justice.

In the end, it's not that hard. Pack your clothes and gear up, get your ass in the truck, buy some food and get out there.

..it's the anticipation though that makes my heart beat faster.. 51 weeks now in the making.



and here we go

[ben-no]

This is ky first burn and I had less than 30 day to get ready. I've been at defcon 2 since. It went to defcon 1 today when the alternator went out on the wagon. Luckly my parts store had one on stock and had it change in 10min. Now back to defcon 2. We leave Friday moring.

[FIGJAM]

Check belts and hoses, then bring spares anyway!

[Savannah]

...employ some radical self reliance in Lakeview (which is a pretty sad place to try to buy underwear on a Sunday evening)...

Can someone recommend a joyful place to buy underwear on a Sunday, or even Saturday, night?

This will keep me up nights.

[waxpraxis]

The only thing keeping me together is the massive deadline I have this week! I've been doing Burning Man related packing and planning to RELAX!

[illy dilly]

...employ some radical self reliance in Lakeview (which is a pretty sad place to try to buy underwear on a Sunday evening)...

Can someone recommend a joyful place to buy underwear on a Sunday, or even Saturday, night?

This will keep me up nights.

lol!
I'd recomend Wal-Mart on pay day Friday. When I'm broke and cant afford to go out. I drink a couple beers, then walk around Wal-mart and enjoy the show!