Post-Burning Man Notes

Clean up and decompression, far more challenging than any rainstorm

Where to begin?

It’s been nearly two weeks since my last post, and I apologize. Burning Man, y’know?

But it’s not just that. I guess I needed a break. And there is no bigger break than Burning Man, as challenging as it is. I’d say I’m refreshed from it, but I’m not. I’m emotionally raw, from a powerful Burn, with some deep connections with some very special people, which is what I go to Burning Man for.

That’s quite apart from the other reason I go to Burning Man: The physical challenges! BM is always a lot of hard, dirty work, and this year was, of course, a “disaster,” according to the (often hysterical, I worry for my profession) news reports. But Burning Man is always a disaster - it’s a big reason why we go! Mankind against the elements! We laugh at dust and wind and fire, and this year at water, as we watch everything we built struggle against elements that do not want us there.

This year, the mud was a drag for about 36 hours – I ended up sleeping far from my remote campsite, j…