It was your first burn....

[MyPlayaUserName]

[quote="DanusLight"]... did you know before you left that you'd return?[/quote]

Oh yeah. It was a confusing week, but by the time Sunday morning came (ya, didnt even experience temple burn my first year!) I was curled up, in a ball, under a blanket, while everyone in my camp packed up their stuff. It had a huge impact on me, I was blown away.

[PurplMyst]

My first year I arrived at dusk on Thursday. By the time the windstorm on Sunday busted my tent I'd recovered from the sensory overload & was thinking "next year I'll have a better tent... next year I'm definitely coming earlier... next year I'll have cool outfits for day AND night..."

[Bob Bitchen]

Wasn't sure what to expect my first burn.

Was not sure at first weather I would return back to BM or not.

But after all the great people I met my first day I knew I had to go back.

Now I can't wait.

[B the B]

Had a very intense first burn and would love to go back. Not sure I can tho, I may have to sacrifice the burner in me for my girl who is not burner material. It would hurt her if I were to return year after year, and I understand. Of course before I left the playa, I was sure I would be coming back. Funny how the default world can brainwash you. I am hoping to go every other year, if that. I don't think I could treat BM like the deadhead sticker on the cadillac, as hard as I may try.

[kitkatseattle]

I knew I would go back again the first day I was there in 2010. One of my girlfriends (who is a six time Burner) that I camped with told me she knew it was for me as soon as we got there and she saw me interacting with people. It was one of the most liberating experiences I have ever had, and I will be there again this year! The ride back home was pretty emotional and confusing, and at that point August 2011 seemed very far away and the default world seemed all too real again.

[hookahdude]

I knew before I attended I would return...

I volunteered with DPW for months before the event and knew just from the people I met there that I would be returning. Hell, I did 4th of Juplaya my first year and remember walking over to a Raver camp with Otto Jukes and standing in the middle of the area just staring at them all with a totally disgusted look... Then DPW shot a bunch of shit.. so yeah - I knew I'd be back.

[Phinneas]

I had no serious expectation of returning after leaving my first burn in '02, and I didn't for another four years.

My first burn was everything and nothing -- I was gently pushed to join a friend from work who was returning for his second burn and doing all the planning for both of us. We were over 2,000 miles away, and I still am. I remember beforehand thinking that I was probably hearing about the whole thing five years too late, given my head-space at the time. Then after arriving, I remember being uncertain over whether or not I was getting the full experience. I continued to enjoy myself in unexpected ways, and I was also gifted by "strangers" a particularly profound experience on my final night.

Yet the idea to finally return, this time all on my own, occurred only while I was grieving a major family loss in 2006. I never expected to feel ready to return, but this time I suddenly knew that I was more than ready. I guess I needed to get to a place where I really wanted to take ownership over my own burn, and ever since that happened, I've only missed it once.

[Shambala]

One the first day of my first burn, I clearly recall saying that was was glad that I witnessed this with my own eyes. You can read and imagine what you think things are going to be like, but unless you see it yourself, it doesn't count. I was sure that I would never be back again, but so glad I saw it.

My "holy shit" moment came after my first night on the playa. It was windy as hell that first night, and I never really experienced anything like that. As I was staggering to the porta-potty the next morning in shorts and a t-shirt with the sun in my eyes, I stopped dead in my tracks and did a full 360 spin and said out loud, "how can I ever miss this again".

I am many years older than I was on my first burn. and always find myself questioning why I am there again. I am tired from travel, shopping and setting up. This all passes and I always have a great week.

[Bob]

My first time in '96 a huge swarm of bedbugs emerged from the ground after a brief rain shower.

Good thing they moved the event ten miles south.

[shroom]

I knew I'd return before I left. last year was my first, returning in 2012.

[Mojojita]

This is 13 in a row for me.

Me too Doc - I can't even imagine not going.....

But that first year was tough. I still have the collage of photos of the old RV behind the towtruck.

[Ugly Dougly]

My first time in '96 a huge swarm of bedbugs emerged from the ground after a brief rain shower.

Good thing they moved the event ten miles south.

Magical, that was.

[Dr. Pyro]

Mojojita, that's funny. Our first year the brakes on our rented RV gave out in Colfax and we left it along the side of the road. Got several people to drive up and get us, and the rental company didn't even charge us for the clean up (etc.) though they said the "...brakes are fine." yeah right, you try barreling down I-80 with no brakes. They over heated is all.

Everyone has theri virgin stories I suppose.

[FaeTora]

My virgin year, I studied and researched and did all I could to prepare knowing I won't ever really be prepared. In the end, I was right. My first day we got there tuesday night as the sun was setting and my campmates wanted to sleep in the yurt we built. I got dressed up and said I was going out. They said I changed. That I was a different person in that moment from the person they knew. And I have so much I learned and am grantful for.

it is home, it is where my mother's ashes are, it is the dust of dreams.

[rodiponer]

I knew I would come again. The preparation was so fun that I knew I needed a second (or third) year just for the excuse to make more things.

A photograph of Unchronia in a dust storm is what made me get off the fence and buy tickets.

I think I am coming back for the same reasons. I want to see what happens next in Black Rock City, especially the art on the playa. And I want to build my own small part of it's future. And I really enjoy the people.

[goathead]

beats the hell out of staying home watching tv.

[Bob Bitchen]

What is TV

Beats the hell out of Staying Home

[flatlander13]

2001 was my first burn…..I knew I was coming back when I left the store in Empire and leading me to the playa was two Volkswagen bugs that had been remade to look like flying saucers. I arrived on the Saturday before the burn……I picked a campsite among the large nothing that was there……I got out of the car and danced (something I don’t usually do). My first night while laying in my tent I could hear an art car driving around with a loud speaker echoing….Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob……Blowjob, Blowjob, Blowjob……….

The next day I found the camp of Ibdave…..a friend of mine that I had not seen in 22 years…..a couple of hours later I was invited to join their camp……the rest is history.

[teardropper]

Yep...

[bluesbob]

I look at my 2011 ticket and I'm still debating.

[addison4]

Isn't every burn like your first?

That's the whole Burning Man concept:
'Go there once; be there twice."

[C187]

Isn't every burn like your first?

That's the whole Burning Man concept:
'Go there once; be there twice."

What would the math be on 2007 if that's the case.. I do wonder.

[havoc]

I knew before I attended I would return...

yeah, this.

[teardropper]

... did you know before you left that you'd return?

I meant, yep...

I knew when I drove into BRC at dawn on Monday morning.

[illy dilly]

I think I knew before I went.
I treated my first year as recon. Me and SmAshly camped with some experienced burner friends that we had not seen since high school. That was its own mistake, turns out 4 years of college changes people, and the direction they changed compared to the direction we changed didn't work well for a 24 hour drive. Thank god, we camped with them though, had they not been there to tell me what I wouldn't need I would have brought all the wrong gear. I would have prepared for it like mountain camping being prepared for wild animals, floods, fallen trees during storms, brought fire wood, and all the skills of mountain camping.
I was overly prepared for BRC, but being over prepared helped me get past the anxiety of the monumental adventure.
I didn't 'get it' the first few days. I had culture shock. Logistically we were more prepared than the people we came with- mentally I had no idea!

I went at it with the idea "This year I'll camp with these folks and see how its done. Next year I'll bring my own friends and show them how its done" And thats what we did. 2009 we camped with our friends, 2010 we brought 2 virgins with us. This year the 4 of us are bring 7 virgins.
Who knows maybe next year the 11 of us will bring 20 more virgins.

But with the recon idea I spent the entire time figuring out HOW TO DO IT, instead of DOING IT. For me year 2 was a lot more fun than year 1.

[Clar-i-ty]

I didn't 'get it' the first few days. I had culture shock. Logistically we were more prepared than the people we came with- mentally I had no idea!

I went at it with the idea "This year I'll camp with these folks and see how its done. Next year I'll bring my own friends and show them how its done" And thats what we did. 2009 we camped with our friends, 2010 we brought 2 virgins with us. This year the 4 of us are bring 7 virgins.
Who knows maybe next year the 11 of us will bring 20 more virgins.

But with the recon idea I spent the entire time figuring out HOW TO DO IT, instead of DOING IT. For me year 2 was a lot more fun than year 1.

Not bad kid. Not bad.

[illy dilly]

Thanks Clarity!
I'd have to say your tips, tricks, and insight, and other folks too, have helped a lot in the preparation and quality of our camp