Hello ePlaya!

[euthlogo]

My name is Tim and 2013 will be my first burn. I made an appearance on the ePlaya a year or so ago when I was learning about Burning Man but now that I am actually going, I figured I might as well introduce myself.

I'm finishing college in NYC right now, but I come from Los Angeles. I love visual, auditory and cognitive stimulus of many kinds and I DJ, VJ, and produce spacey music in my free time. I am here to inadequately prepare myself for this journey and to get to know the community.
<3

[Drawingablank]

Welcome

[Savannah]

Hi Tim!

Welcome.

Note: We're all grumpier here than on the playa.

[illy dilly]

I am here to inadequately prepare myself for this journey and to get to know the community.
<3

Hello Tim!
Welcome to eplaya!

If you start preparing now, you will most likely NOT be inadequately prepared!
6 months is a long time! Especially if you do a little bit each month!

[lucky420]

Hola and hello...

[euthlogo]

Thanks for the warm welcome all! This forum doesn't seem nearly as grumpy as most online forums. The community is just intolerant of ignorance, which I understand. Relative anonymity tends to make people that way.

If you start preparing now, you will most likely NOT be inadequately prepared!
6 months is a long time! Especially if you do a little bit each month!

I have seen this method recommended on this forum a lot in my limited browsing time. It sounds like the bare bones preparation is Tent -> Warm Things -> Shade -> Kitchen but I will want to prepare those things while I'm back home (in L.A.) over the summer. Any littler things I can prepare while I'm still in NYC? Blinky Lights seem small and easy to get ahead of time, and I already have goggles.

Also would you guys recommend trying to find a theme camp ( or just an established camp of some kind ) for my girlfriend and I to stay with? I understand that it's a matter of personal preference, but what do you guys see as the pros and cons of camping en masse vs solo?

(also forgive me if I am trying to squeeze too much info out of my intro thread, there are so many other places I can ask these questions, you guys just seem so welcoming )

[BurnerBunny]

welcome!

I'm an anal retentive planner, I've already mapped out what I'm trying to accomplish each month. Plenty of time to prepare still

If you stumble across a bunny themed hexayurt this year say hi

[jkisha]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[gaminwench]

Hi! I'm not grumpy, at all!

I like theme camping, but that's because I have over active hostess genes, and our camp is a far-flung (chosen)family that only meets in the dust.
In our camp, we only take a limited number of virgins (for sacrificial purposes); those are invited and sponsored by the core group, and not expected to do much...
no build/strike, and very few 'shifts' during the event.
This is practical; most new folks will take at least 3 days to acclimate, and tend to get really distracted by shiny blinky unicorns... so counting on them for infrastructure isn't realistic.

That said, my first year (oh, so long ago), I came for 3 days to meet friends who had done nothing to prepare me for BRC.(They said, oh, bring some cooler food and an air mattress, look for the colorful flag near Center Camp... hahahahahahaha!)

It was frustrating, exhilarating and uncomfortable; I knew within 5 hours that I would be back, prepared, and participating.

Just the fact that you're here, on eplaya, bodes well for your preparedness and playa comfort level...
Take it easy your first year; if you decide to join a camp, don't let them work you too hard...