I wrote this for the Playa Virgins tribe, but I thought it would be fun to post here. I'd love to see other people's lists, too!

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If you're freekin out over "all the stuff I have to get", remember that the essentials arent that long a list.

Everybody has their own list. Here's mine. If you have all this, you'll survive your week in the desert with some comfort. There are plenty of other things you might want, but if you skip any of these you'll be roughing it. (For example, Marines and 18 year old guys might be able to sleep on the hard ground without a mattress pad, but most of us will sleep better with something to insulate us from the cold, or hot, ground).

Here's my personal "essentials" list:
ticket
water - 1.5 Gallons/person/day (www.burningman.com/preparat...ter.html)
something to sleep under: tent w/ extra stakes (or rebar), or could be your vehicle
something to sleep in: sleeping bag or really warm blankets
something to sleep on: air mattress, foam pad,
something to cook on: minimal stove (coleman, sterno, MSR, whatever)
something to cook in: one cookpot per person
lighter or matches (for stove)
ticket
something to eat with: one bowl, spoon and fork per person (bowl can be a tupperware type container)
something to drink with: cup
something to cut with: knife (pocket knife with bottle opener and can opener can be very handy)
something to eat: food, including some bars (cliffbar, powerbar, lunabar, whatever)
hat for sun protection
sunscreen
lip balm
ticket
sunglasses
one set of really warm clothes for cold nights (such as thermals and coat and hat)
lighting - headlamp (easier to use than flashlight)
dust protection for breathing (dust mask, bandanas)
extra bandanas (washcloth, towel, 1001 uses)
soap (I like Dr Bronners)
comfy shoes/boots for lots of walking and dancing on hard dirt
extra socks
water bottle or hydration bladder
ticket

essential luxuries:
ice chest (a good one can double as chair or table)
small daypack
beer, juice, drink mixes
toothbrush
tarp and thin rope (to protect from sudden rainstorm, cover things in sandstorms, or use to cook or bathe on, so you're not on dirt)

really nice to have:
chair (its nice go get your ass off the ground for a while in the middle of the day)

useful tip:
I like to pack my stuff in big plastic bins (I use the "Roughneck" brand ones, because they stack. On sale for $5 at OSH, and you can get different colors for different stuff).You can ductape them closed and check them on airplanes/busses instead of luggage (bring extra ductape for the trip home).

Also,
In keeping with the "Green Man" theme, you might consider borrowing as much of your gear as you can from friends and family. There are oodles of people with an old tent, cooler, or sleeping bag in their basement/attic/storage unit. The more you can borrow, the less you'll have to spend, and the fewer decisions you'll have to make. (and the more money you'll have left for beer and ice)

And remember,
don't forget your ticket