So I’m sitting here looking at my budgeting stuff for the next few months and scheduling and such. Damn. I really hate money.
What in the world is so fucking miraculous about BM that I am justifying making my life a bit crappier for months in order to go? The ticket was $260sumthin with shipping. Food, gas to get there, the rest of the equipment I don’t have…. yeah. That will all be at least another $200. And that is not doing anything for “costumes” or “gifts” which I am told over and over that I should do…
I am really tired of not buying food in order to be budgeting crap for this. Am I fucking crazy? I would tell anyone else that they were stupid if they gave up day-to-day necessary for life stuff in order to do something escapist. So what am I doing?!
You’re going to be in a totally immersive environment that probably needs to be experienced, and doesn’t lend itself well to explaination.
If I thought I could get away with going, I’d love to. But certainly not this year.
You haven’t told me a reason why it is worth it. I have had so many experiences. Why is this one worth it?
I could save this amount of money a little more slowly and go to Europe over Christmas break for three weeks. Wouldn’t that be an immersive experience? Why wouldn’t that be a smarter choice?
I can’t tell you with absolute certainty that it would be worth it, because I haven’t gone. But I suspect, while not quite as cool as it used to be, it’s still darned cool.
Choices such as Europe or any location tend to be a “do it anytime” kind of thing. BM happens once a year, and it’s like a discharge of creative energy for many people. It’s an experiment of size and audacity.
I suspect you’re feeling “buyers remorse” – a common feeling when you make any sort of large purchase (and even some small ones). It’s a feeling that passes.
Alternately, think about why you signed up to go in the first place, and ask if those reasons are still valid. If not, you may still be able to sell your ticket to someone who hasn’t gotten one yet.
Ok, yes it is an experiment in size. I have yet to experience any large group that I enjoyed. I really hate crowds. I’ve been going to these “beach burns” that a bunch of burners do every month and as soon as the crowd was more than a hundred people I stopped liking it and I don’t like going anymore. How in the hell am I going to handle 35-40 thousand people?!
And I fucking hate the desert. I hate the desert more than you can know. I see absolutely nothing beautiful or romantic in the desert. I have lived there. It sucks ass through a straw. It is something that I put up with if I have no choice… but I have a choice here.
It isn’t just about buyers remorse. It is about the fact that I have $150/month for food in order to go to BM and that really doesn’t go far.
I sincerely doubt that I am going to spontaneously become happier about eating so much cheap crap–and let me tell you, you can’t count calories on a budget. There is a reason that rich people tend to be thinner and poor people tend to be heavier. Decent food costs more.
The people are in a much bigger space than in a beach burn, so it’s not really a crowd sort of feeling. The only exception to this is the burn itself, which I expect you’d want to watch from a distance.
If you abhor the desert, though, and find absolutely nothing redeemable about it, then this probably isn’t for you.
Cast off the bonds of commercialism and sanity! Embrace the dirt! Kill your television! Climb into the ass of a 20 foot tall goat!
Aw…nevermind…Burning Man sucks…don’t go…
😉
*glare*
Seriously, it’s a harsh desert environment. Some people have a crappy time there. There’s very few other places on earth that you can avoid cash and corporate logos in a city of 30+k. Or see hundreds of women ride by with no tops. Or get stopped for a footwash and foot massage by people sitting at the side of the road who only want to give a gift to you and talk. Or pancakes and sausage. Or almost get eaten by a 10 foot long glowing dragonfly. Or see a 30 foot tall man catch fire. These are all semi-common experiences at Black Rock City. Don’t expect things going there, just be ready to experience and live. You are Burning Man.
And for those of us of the paler variety, Cancerous Man. Or Woman.
” So what am I doing?!”
Suffering for your art?
But what part of me is participating in the art of the event? I am so not into art.
do you sing while there, do you dance whille there, do you give of yourself?
I have never been, so I dotn know how to help you justif it to yourself… but it is my understanding that even by simply shareing the experience and thinking about the displays and what the whole thing means to you, shareing even a little of it is adding to the art of the whole thing.
Its damn near magical that there springs forth a city once a year for such a short time, and everyone takes care of each other and everyone goes there to experience it all.
You, yes you specifically, are good at touching others with even a glance. Perhaps someone will find a muse in you this year, perhaps you will find words to express something that you need to say… perhaps you will bring a ribbon ad dance with it in the wind.. perhaps there is something that needs the purging of fire, perhaps it is simply the act of being part of it that is art its self. Art is just an expression of what it is to be fully wholly wildly simply living, and I have seen that in your eyes.
Follow your heart.
I haven’t been to Burning Man, so I can’t really explain it all. You’ve talked to enough people who’ve been, seen enough photos, to have some idea of what it’s going to be like. I’m interested in going, once, but there are so many things I’d rather spend the time & money on that I haven’t made it yet, and don’t feel much of a loss.
If your budget is really that tight, put it off for next year. Or, look at what you’re planning to spend, and see how much you can improvise or borrow.
Lastly, it’s not that hard to eat well on a very limited budget, but you have to make a tradeoff of spending time prepping and cooking.
1. It’s easy to eat well on a “limited budget” if you buy smart and cook for yourself. Prepared foods are expensive. Things like rice, potatoes, pasta, simple vegetables, greens, etc. aren’t expensive.
2. If you’re that cranky about BM, sell your ticket and don’t go.
If you hate the desert, don’t go.
I’ve never been, and I’m sure someone will respond to me saying that it’s different when you’re there, but…Last year a couple of friends went for the first time, because they kept hearing how it was wonderful and they needed to try it. They came back 2 days later because they were so miserable there. (heat, storms blowing down shade shelters, etc.)
While I fully believe that burning man is an absolutely wonderful experience for many people, I also have come to think that it’s not for everyone. I considered going, despite the fact that I suspect with my low heat tolerance and needing to drink two gallons of water a day in an air conditioned house it would probably kill me, but watching friends who tried going come back hating it made me realize that it’s one of those experiences that I really don’t have to have.
If they ever have a burning man type thing in a forest instead of a desert, I am so there. However, while it’s happening in the middle of a fucking desert in the middle of summer, there’s no way I’m going.
On the other hand, if despite all that you’re hoping to get something important for yourself out of going, it may be worth it. A lot of people do seem to think that they gain a lot by going, and if it leads to being happier or other good changes within yourself, perhaps it might be worth the effort of going. I can’t know what you’d get from it. But if you suspect the desert location would make you miserable, not to mention the expense, it might not be worth trying, at least this year.
If they ever have a burning man type thing in a forest instead of a desert, I am so there.
That is precisely how I feel about it. I am water-powered. The desert kills me.
The harsh desert environment (and the price tag) acts as a partial wall to those who aren’t interested in participating, those who are only interested in ruining others’ fun. Nobody likes sweaty heat, icy cold, talcum-fine dirt, and harsh wind storms. You REALLY have to want to go in order to go. It dosn’t keep all the trouble makers out, especially eveyone who shows up the night of the burn. The night of the burn is special though. Dark and chaotic, powerful and dangerous. The wide eyed astonishment and confusion of the frat boy crowd adds to the energy. Its as if the entire city, not just the Man, is aflame.
BM type event in a Forest
Have you been to the Oregon Country Fair? Or after hours up at the old Ren Faire in Novato which was vastly different with the paying guests gone for the day.
Ahhh, memories of trying to stay in character all day and then all night!
BM-esque in the forest
To some extent they have an event like BM in the forest. Ancient Ways does a few festivals a year at Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, CA. Not a spontaneous city. Much less than 35,000 people. A lot of the same folks. Lots of creativity. Mineral hot springs. Naked folks in the woods and dancing around fires. Much cheaper to travel to. Option of indoor plumbing. Hostel buildings and camp sites. Restaurant and necessities store on premises. About a 4 hour drive from my house.
http://www.ancientways.com
Of course, other folks mileage may vary.
As for tackling the original post- (Disclaimer: This is just my opinion- please do not try to convince me that I _need_ to go, I have already decided that I never will.)-
Never seen much reason to go to BM myself. I was raised by hippies. I can go to Harbin just about anytime I want. I go to PantheaCon, in San Jose, every year. BM seems to make some people happy. Though, I always wondered if some peoples accounts of how terrific it is didn’t have to do with the fact that they had spent so much time, effort and money to get there that they couldn’t bear to admit that they felt they had been duped and had a miserable time.
Re: BM-esque in the forest
forgot the link to Harbin 🙂
http://www.harbin.org/
What in the world is so fucking miraculous about BM that I am justifying making my life a bit crappier for months in order to go?
I dunno…how’d you get convinced to go in the first place?
And that is not doing anything for “costumes” or “gifts” which I am told over and over that I should do…
Costumes are nice for people who like to dress up in 100 degree heat. Slightly more sensible people prefer to be nearly naked.
“Gifts” are just that. If you enjoy spontaneously giving shit to people, do so. If not, don’t.
A-men.
Seriously, I don’t enjoy much of it. The heat kills me, the dust is pretty bad.
But then I have spontaneously magical moments, and to me, those moments are worth it. I can’t promise you’ll get one or anything, but that’s why I go.
Is it going to be your first one too? I was told that you don’t need to really go too far for costumes and gifts on the first go-round, partially because you’re going to have enough to do getting yourself ready to go, and partially because being there inspires the next and next and next years costumes, gifts, gigs, camps, events, etc.
if you decide to go I have some camping stuff you can borrow. *shrug* playa dust will be interesting, in my tent, at any rate… and that’s prolly about as close as I will get to the playa anytime soon.
I don’t wanna go b/c its in the desert. rather go to Lark, could I do anything this summer but take classes. *frown* but I can’t. maybe light social time, is all.
don’t like desert, don’t have time/energy etc just now (if ever) to brave the edginess of it all… but like someone else who commented here, would gladly do it if was forest. Or ocean, for that matter.
So what am I doing?!
Good question. Why did you decide this was a good idea in the first place?
*There are two reasons why I do not attend Burning Man as everyone suggests that I should…*
You’ve hit one…dead on…
the other reason why is the heat and sun…*I’m a white chick of the freckled and red haired persuasion…*there is no way I would survive…the thought of being out there under the blaring sun makes me ill…
*But, you…you go have fun now…
cranky at or cranky by?
Are you cranky at BM or are you cranky by what you have to do to get to BM?
It doesn’t matter what others think of BM, it only matters what you think/want. And who gives a rat’s ass about what you’re being told to do over and over… when it comes right down to it, it’s your money, your time, your comfort/discomfort.
If I take this post at face-value I say sell your ticket (if you can) or take it as a loss.