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How to be spontaneous and prepared at the same time
You just never know what will happen on the playa. You might go for a "short stroll" and end up being gone for hours. Meanwhile, you wish you had your sunscreen, water bottle, etc. Be prepared to "hop on the fun wagon" at the drop of a hat. Here's how: pack your basic necessities in your day pack or tote. Don't ever take them out of this pack. Have duplicates for use in camp so you aren't tempted to "un-stock" your pack. Restock used supplies as soon as you get back to camp. Take your pack with you everywhere...even for a short stroll.

Pack your "survival bag" before you leave home: you will be ready to go look around the instant you hit the playa!

Basic necessities for your playa-tripping survival pack or tote
External Hang Tag with your name and camp location, as well as your home contact information, in case it gets separated from you (like an airport luggage tag)
Seriously, don't skip the hang tag: how many people have you talked to who lost their daypacks at Burning Man? It's a real bummer to lose your stuff! With contact information, you might get it back.

Water bottle(s) -- Never leave home without water!
A cup -- for partaking of offered beverages
Powerbar or some other non-meltable snack
Sunscreen, sunblock, lip balm
Sunglasses, eye drops
Flashlight, glow sticks (You might be gone longer than you think)
Long sleeved cotton shirt or jacket
Band-aids, moleskin, basic first aid, Swiss army pocket knife
Dust mask, handkerchief, dust scarf (see clothing section for dust scarf hint)
Pen, pencil, or marker, and paper (there are things to write on)
$10 for chai or latte at the cafe, or maybe you will want to buy ice on the way back to camp
Clean pair of sox (seriously)
Condoms and other such things? (Your scoutmaster would be impressed)
Small garbage bag (to corral your trash or pick up trash you see blowing around)
Mints or some such 
Toothbrush and toothpaste (hygiene is so much fun!)

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Sleeping
It can be surprisingly cold at night: be prepared with extra blankets and/or warm jammies.

During the day, put your sleeping gear in large garbage bags and tie shut to keep out the dust! A cot set in the shade is awesome for daytime napping.

Tents can be like an oven, even at night: they just don't allow much air circulation. A small, simple lean-to built on the shady side of your vehicle with tarps, rope, and old carpet might work well for hot nights. But in a dust storm, a tent or vehicle is *much* better: be prepared with options.

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Shelter
Your vehicle won't blow away. Use it as a main anchor for your camp structure. It also gives you a handy lockable storage area in your camp. 

Be aware that there may be thieves looking for things to steal in your camp while you are out on the playa: this is especially true the night they burn the Man. Keep easy-to-steal/sell valuables locked up and out of sight.

If you are planning on sleeping in your vehicle, use a couple of reflective windshield shades to keep out the heat during the day: this makes for cooler sleeping and more privacy. Or strap Reflectix on the top and sides of your vehicle: http://www.reflectixinc.com/. Available at Home Depot, etc, this product works really well and is also useful for covering coolers and such. Duct tape doesn't hold well in the heat, wind, and dust: you will need to strap or tie the Reflectix to your car.

A wonderful way to repair/replace or add grommets to tarps or coverings like Reflectix is to get a 1" or so "hole saw": this is a special drill bit that saws a round circle. For each grommet, saw out two circles from 1/4" plywood. Sandwich the tarp between the two plywood circles. Use a small "eyebolt" to anchor the two pieces of plywood together.

Bring a variety of rope in different sizes: twine, heavy nylon, lightweight poly, etc. Webbing straps are also very handy: buy a 100 yard roll of nylon or polyester 1 inch wide webbing and cut into various lengths (5, 10, 15, 20 feet, etc). Sear the ends with a candle. With heavy thread, sew on heavy plastic ladderloc buckles or metal cam buckles to make handy quick adjustable straps (good source for webbing and hardware: http://www.owfinc.com). These are wonderful for tying stuff to your vehicle or erecting a shelter.

Get colorful old flat (not fitted) sheets from the thrift store. These are great for all kinds of things, like creating shade and color in your camp (or a toga?). Tie each corner into a knot; then, run rope from the corner to tie the sheet up.

You might rethink bringing rugs to BM: they are awful if it rains. Loading a *heavy* soggy, muddy rug onto a car for heading home is no picnic. In fact, even a dry dusty rug is a pain to load back up. Rugs are nice on the feet though: bring small pieces and use strategically. 

An old tarp makes a good cover for the ground to help keep the dust down in your camp: if it rains, it will collect water, but this usually isn't a tragedy. 

Another idea for a camp ground cover is canvas: sew heavy canvas into a suitable size for your camp. Paint the canvas with colorful patterns, etc. You can use regular latex house paint for this: thrift stores will have odds and ends of paint. A canvas ground cloth feels nice on the feet, and is much lighter, easier to haul around, and easier to clean than a rug. You can set grommets at the corners of the canvas and stake it down to the playa.

Regular tent stakes just won't work on the playa, especially for larger structures. Buy old rebar from a building surplus store. Two to three feet long is good. With two pieces of heavy pipe, you can bend one end. Stick the rebar in one pipe, leave 6 inches sticking out. Stick the other pipe on the exposed end, and bend it: no heating is required. This might take two people. A 75 degree bend is easier to pound in than a 90 degree one. If possible, pound the rebar all the way into the ground: exposed ends are dangerous! You will need a sledge hammer to pound in the rebar: a regular hammer just won't do it.

Bring something to cover the ends of your stakes and rebar: most injuries at BM are caused by people cutting their feet on stakes! Tennis balls, plastic soda bottles, and even stuffed animals make good protectors. Get the stuffed animals at the thrift shop, attach them with zip ties, and reuse them year after year. Stuffed animals get my vote as the best stake protectors.

Also, try to mark your structure's ropes and lines with flashers, reflective ribbon, or candles in jars. Disoriented people will run into them at night even if they are not near a road or path. Try to make your structure safe, day and night, for those around you. Don't let your camp be Camp Hazard!

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Automobiles
Give the wheeled beast a checkup several days before you leave for the playa: check the tires, the spare tire and jack etc, fluid levels and so forth. It really sux to break down on the way to BM! Bring some basic spare parts and supplies for your rig: air filter, oil, brake fluid, antifreeze. A spare air filter is especially important. Oh, and don't forget the spare keys! Don't haul your keys around with you while you explore the playa: hide them in a safe place in your camp...and don't forget where you put them!

Playa dust is invasive and pervasive: don't park your rig with the front end facing into the wind. Dust will blow in and fill up your engine compartment, clog up your radiator fins, and cover your fan. Cover the front end of your car with a tarp.

Make sure you and your vehicle are legal: tags, license, insurance, registration, and all lights, etc. Drive safely and sanely: make it to the playa alive. Watch out for cows in the road! And don't swerve for the suicidal bunnies in the road: heavily loaded vehicles are hard to handle and can easily overturn. Sorry bunnies...

Bring spare gas if you plan on traveling at night. The gas stations in many small town close early, especially on Sunday and holidays. I got stuck in Lakeview and had to rent a motel room: this won't happen to me again!

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Fun stuff
When you think of fun things to bring to BM, first think of "Leave No Trace." Please don't bring things that shed or shred. You *can* have fun (and fun and fun!) and not leave junk scattered all over the playa. Items on the NO-NO list: glitter, feather boas, clothes that shed sequins, firecrackers, paper streamers that rip too easily, individually wrapped candies, unshelled sunflower seeds, and pistachio nuts.

If you bring canned pressurized air for your camera, don't leave it in the sun in your car. One exploded and broke a windshield. It blew up like a rocket.

If you have room, bring more costumes than you think you will need. It is fun to share and trade costumes! It is often quite cold at night: to keep from freezing in your favorite costume, plan on ways to "layer" if necessary. Bring lightweight long johns or tights to wear under your costume. Or bring a cape to wrap up in. 

If you bring solar yard lights to mark your camp paths, bring large clear plastic bags and rubber bands to enclose the lights and protect them from the dust. I did this last year and it worked great! The lights recharged and lit up at night just fine: when I got home, I just pulled off the bags, and the lights were clean!

What to bring for gifts for your new and old friends? What you bring to share can be an expression of who you are. Creating art for others to view is a gift. And creating art is also awesome for YOU! Hushville resident, Sparks, says it well: http://www.blinkyredthings.org/art/index.html 

What not to bring for gifts: please don't bring cheap, junkie 'trinkets' that will end up being thrown onto the playa. This just creates problems for everyone. And Burning Man is NOT 'Bartertown': a gift is a gift, not a substitute for money. Some 'exchanges of gifts' may appear to be a trade of some kind: this can create interaction and participation. It's a fine line to walk: use your best judgment and your best *intentions*. Don't get sucked into 'making the best deal': this will only taint your Burning Man experience.

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Clothing
You might end up changing your clothes more often than you think: temperatures can change as quickly as your mood. Be prepared with a variety of layers and looks. 

Sox end up gritty and nasty all too quickly: bring lots. Bring some NEW, cushy socks...oh, your feet will thank you profusely on your fourth day of attendance. Clean sox are good medicine for painful feet.

Being nekkid is one way to save on the need for clothes: but remember, in the heat of the sun, having on a baggy, long sleeved cotton shirt and long skirt or pants is actually cooler than having the sun shine on your skin. In fact, a lightweight long cotton skirt is just about the perfect clothing at Burning Man for men and women alike. You'll love the convenience in the port-a-potty. And the breeze swirling around those sticky inner thighs will give you that extra lift you need. The thrift store should have plenty of these "one size fits all" skirts.

Carry around a water mister and spritz yourself and your friends. Damp clothes are quite refreshing in the breeze. 

Dust is another problem: one year I discovered a great way to keep dust out of my eyes, ears, nose, hair, etc: a dust scarf! I went to the fabric store and got a yard and a half long piece of "see through" fabric, like the kind you might use for costumes or wedding dresses. It had some "body" to it, meaning it was somewhat stiff and not limp. When the wind whipped up the dust, I wrapped my entire head in this scarf. It was stiff enough to stand away from my face, and was finely woven enough to keep out the dust! Plus I could easily see through the fabric and was able to breath just fine. I thought it was sort of a good look, too.

Most fabric stores will have a variety of this type of fabric. Hold it up to the light: can you see through it? Is it finely woven so it will keep out the dust? Is it somewhat stiff? Is it *your color*? Does the cut edge ravel when you pull at it? If it ravels too much, you might need to sew a hem in it: otherwise, no sewing is required. 

Plus, the dust scarf will fold down into a small space...you can carry it everywhere. Stuff it in your pack. Wrap it around your shoulders for that preppy look.

I know you want to be fashionable, but please also bring a couple of pairs of *very* comfortable shoes. You will find yourself walking and walking and walking...and the dust is hard on your feet too. Bring moleskin and basic blister first aid just in case!

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Personal Stuff
*Unscented* biodegradable soap is nice. If you collect your "gray water," the concentrated smell of scented soaps mixed with playa dust can be awful. You really should collect your gray water: it is easy to do, keeps contaminates off the playa, and keeps your camp from getting muddy.

Use Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap or vinegar to counteract the effects of the alkaline playa dust. Feet and hands can crack from the horrendous drying effect of this dust. Some campers recommend keeping a tub of water with some Dr. Bronner's in it next to their tent: dip your feet before entering the tent!

Water misters are wonderful on hot days. Wear a long sleeved cotton shirt, mist all over (inside and out) for a great cooling effect. A bike ride in the heat of the day is bearable if you have a damp shirt to wear. Misters (and sisters) can also help on hot nights.

A bag of ice on your head (inside your hat!) or a wet hankie on your neck can help if you are feeling too hot. Don't forget your broad-brimmed playa hat...make sure it has a chin strap.

Don't pee in your camp or near someone else's camp: it will smell bad! Remember, don't put garbage in the port-a-potties: if it wasn't in your body, it doesn't go in the potty. This includes tampons, pads, and condoms! Take a small ziploc bag with you to the potty if you need to change a tampon or pad: then throw it away in your garbage back at camp. Burning Man is in danger of being shut down because of the amount of non-poop/pee/toilet paper stuff in the toilets.

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Things to eat
You won't be nearly as hungry as you think. Bring only a few perishable foods. Yes, you can buy ice on the playa, but it can be a hassle to go get it, etc. And ice only works well for keeping beverages cold. How about some lovely water-soaked cheese floating in your cooler along with raw chicken and some rotting lettuce? And now what are you going to do with this smelly mess? This happens to everyone the first few times they attend Burning Man. Be smart and bring only the amount of perishables that you can eat within a couple of days.

Simple, easy to fix food works well. Keep cleanup to a minimum: eat finger foods. Leftovers usually won't get eaten: make small quantities at meal times. Believe me, you will almost *never* pull leftovers back out of your cooler to eat them: they will just add to your smelly garbage.

Never leave your cooler in the sun. Wrap it in several layers of Reflectix or tarps even in the shade: this will help to keep the cold in. Or, if you have a wildland firefighter base nearby, ask them for defective fire shelters. I managed to score some of these and they are *great* for shielding a variety of items from the radiant heat of the playa.

Canned non-carbonated juices like Kern's freeze really well. Every year I bring a cooler filled with these: they stay frozen for days. They are delicious: you can't tell they have been frozen. Plus they make great gifts for your thirsty friends.

Here is an old rafter's trick to keep items frozen for days: fill a cooler with frozen items, all of them must be in waterproof containers. Now partially fill the cooler with water: a little over half full is good. Take the cooler to the local meat locker and have them freeze the whole cooler. Get the cooler on your way to the playa. Tape the top shut, and don't open it. You will be surprised how long this will stay frozen.

Eat and drink healthy! You won't feel much like having fun if you are sick. Take *good* care of your body. BM is not a good time to experiment with your diet by eating *weird* stuff. Drink lots of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages: pure water is the best. No, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages don't count! Drink juice or powdered drink mixes if you get bored with water. Offer cold beverages to all your friends. 

Grumpiness is a sign of dehydration: don't let this happen to you!

The BM web site offers these ideas for playa kitchens: http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/kitchens.html

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Take care of yourself and others
BM can be a sensory overload: give yourself some quiet alone time every day if possible. Sit somewhere and read, meditate, or nap. Encourage your friends to take some quiet time too. Know your limits: there is just too much to see and not enough time to see it all.

Be forgiving and patient with your campmates, your neighbors, and yourself. Avoid confrontations. Don't answer surliness with sarcasm. Take a deep breath and remember what's important. Go for a walk. Take a time out. Bad moods will pass and be forgotten: hurtful words and actions may stick around.

Be smart about what you ingest at BM: your body will be ultra-sensitive in the heat and chaos of the playa. Pace yourself, give yourself time to recover if you go "all out" the day before. 

The vast majority of us go through this life with an inadequate amount of affectionate physical contact. Give hugs, receive hugs, encourage hugs. Say "Ahhhhh, doesn't that feel wonderful!" when you get a hug. Smile and encourage one another: acknowledge your friends and get to know your neighbors.

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