Virgins - who are you?

I'm Chathaunt- other wise known as Screeeech Owl

I'm from Arcata, Humboldt County, California.

I usually like to camp around 4:20 and J, but you never know where I might show up.

It will be my fifth year if I make it. I hope to camp with fellow burners from Humboldt County, but we seem to be a kinda wishy-washy bunch. Half of us are too concerned about harvest to leave in the beginning of September. The other lesser half just started the Fall semester at Humboldt State University. I usually end up driving myself with a rather ragged bunch of burners, and a pile of crap that could barely be considered a camp. Got ticket, tent, water, bike- will burn!

And I won't be bringing any stinking boyfriends.

Hiya Virgins, nice to get to know some of ya.... hope to see ya on the playa.. I LOVE Virgins..

I'm Bare, former prominent person in ARCTIC... I've retired after 12 yrs...

from Central Valley California, not too far fromSF

going with Friends and our Themecamp

and camping somewhere on the right side about 4:30ish..

ya all have a GREAT TIME!!!!!

Bare

1-who are you? Linda. Graduate student, artist, costumer, belly dancer, musician, all around fun person

2-where are you from? Albuquerque, New Mexico, the land of enchantment

3-do you have a camp yet or are you contemplating any? I have no real idea actually, I might know by May.

4-going with friends, partner, alone? looking for a carpool? I have two groups of friends who have gone for a number of years. I'll probably see them. I'm not counting on my BF to be there. Carpool? love to. If anyone's from ABQ or on the way let me know!

After answering these questions I realize that despite a ton of planning, lists, and projects, I'm not all that ready to go. Dang, I hope I am by summer.

1. Kevin / Moose / Spanky work with software in oilfield

2. Calgary

3. Not sure on the camp yet, have got on local mailing list and will make it out to some events to meet other local burners and hopefully camp near them. Not looking to become a big organized camp this year but would like to have great neighbors.

4. Have two other virgins I have talked into coming along, 3 of us are trekking down in RV.

1- Misty, Mystical, Myst, Mom, Wifey, Bitch, Daughter, Lil' Sister, Queen of TMI, Dreamer, Unschooler, Digital Designer & Marketing Professional
2- Mother's womb, Waverly, Iowa, United States of America, Planet Earth
3- I'm just following my husband's lead on camps and most likely bitching at him the whole way that he is wrong about everything. Good times.
4- Going with my loving husband, although I have been trying to get my parents to join us.

1, Steve ( playa name TBD)
2, From the Boston Area. Glosta to be spacific
3, Not part of a camp but considering. May make my first burn campless to really take it in
4, Going. Got an Tix, flights and an RV. 3 of 6 slots filled so far. Maybe more from the local tribe.

1-who are you? Well I'm Sara
2-where are you from?
3-do you have a camp yet or are you contemplating any?
4-going with friends, partner, alone? looking for a carpool?

1 I'm Sara
2 I live in Oak Park
3 I don't have a camp yet
4 I'm going with my friend Rane
I'm so excited I can't wait!!!!

Many camps - even theme camps, follow the self sufficient, but camping together model. Our camp was one such camp - we shared things amongst each other, but it was not official communal cooking or anything like that. It was just an offer of friendship.... there is/was no communal kitchen, no communal shower, etc.
Personally, I dont like the communal kitchen, shower, etc. I prefer autonomy in such things - I'm responsible for MY stuff, you're responsible for YOUR stuff. Just makes things easier.
That said, we all contributed to camp setup, tear down, and theme camp responsibilities - pre, during, and post playa - the theme camp is what unified us.

"I Kinda like the idea of being self sufficent but camping with a group. Any suggestions on other camps would be appreciated."

Rob,
I just caught your post. :) I went alone my virgin year, shared the tent with my bf of the time, just the 2 of us waaaaaaay out in the boonies of the 'burbs (translation: all the way at the outer rings, in a very sparsely occupied area). I have to say that I found that to be challenging. It was a bit too isolating, and a bit too hard to be doing everything ourselves without help. The last year I went (2005) I also went with my bf (far better than the first one, I upgraded ;) and we camped in a small-to-medium very low key camp (Happy Camp). I enjoyed that much more. Partly because we had friends in Happy Camp, but honestly I hardly hung out with them.

It was more enjoyable because there were people around, someone to chat with over coffee, and we got to learn about some cool gear. Our neighbor was an AZ Burner we had never met before and he let us use his shower stall and play with his unicycle. It was just nice to have that kind of interaction and gifting or trading around camp. There are times when you're not really ready to go storm the playa, but you want some company while you get yourself together. One morning I hung out in the community shade dome and sewed my camelpak, and just chatted with whoever strolled by.

But at the same time it was a fend-for-yourself camp: you took care of your own meals and cleanup. They had a sweet shade structure and morning mimosas, but other than that there was nothing organized and you could come and go as you pleased. There will be no shortage of taking it all in. ;) you might find that you would like a low maintenance camp, where it's really just some folks staking out an area and camping near each other, but you don't have to be responsible for shifts or host events or cook community meals. You just help set up and clean up.

There's a directory of all camps on the BM site. And between now and August you'll probably find you've made some friends via Tribe or ePlaya that you'll want to camp with.

hope that helps.

"3. No, and not sure how that all works. Never been to BM (lol, guess that's why I'm in the Virgin tribe) so.... is there a list of the camps? Do you have to ask someone? Lol, seriously, I have no clue. I have my ticket, so at least I know I'm headed in the right direction. "

Tiffany,
if you haven't already, join the AZ Burners Yahoo Group. Lots of great, experienced people there. And the AZ Burners host a Virgins Orientation each year. :)

as far as camps, yes, if you want to join someone's theme camp it's best to arrange that before the playa. nearly all have space limitations as well as fees (covering things like shade, food, generators). if you want to just camp near someone, that's ok to just wing it once you get there. If you go to the BM website you can find a list of all the theme camps registered for the event, along with their contact info. :)

1-Ellen, mom/wife/novelist/videogame producer/musician/traveler
2-From Seattle
3-Coordinating with friends from Texas, but may ask to join Hushville or AEZ if that doesn't work out.
4-Driving with one friend from Seattle

Very much looking forward to my first Burning Man!

---E

edit...partner not going *sad face*

but going with my best friend and still camping at OMCC *happy face*

Nice, I to will be having a birthday on the playa. You must be a Virgo as well.