Off Topic - I dodged a bullet - Burning Man

GothicGremlin

I go to Burning Man periodically, but had no plans to go this year. Peggy's caregiving has been intense the last couple of months. But some of my Burner friends almost convinced me to go with them - they had extra tickets and everything. It really is a place where, with no computer screens, intermittent cell phone service, you are living in the moment, like it or not. Burning Man is work, definitely not a vacation, but it sounded appealing to me. Kind of like being able to get a reset with my headspace.

In the end, I just couldn't justify it. The location is way too remote for me to be right now, when anything can go wrong with Peggy.

Now with all the rain at Burning Man, and the prospect of people not being able to leave until Tuesday - sanitation, food, and water are going to become issues. I'm not really worried about anyone, Burners are resourceful, and most bring extra of everything (we always do).

Usually, some people leave right after the Burn, which is tonight (Saturday), many leave on Sunday, and everybody has to be out by Monday. With the playa now back to being a lake, and no one is going anywhere. I'm not even sure they're going to be able to burn The Man tonight.

So yeah, I dodged a bullet. Maybe I'll go next year.

Iris L.

I saw all the traffic backed up on the road. I would be very upset to be stuck out there in the desert!

Iris

BassetHoundAnn

When I saw the news about Burning Man today I remembered your message about possibly going, and our encouragement that you take a break from caregiving. I know Peggy's caregiving has been emotional wrenching lately, but I'm so glad you escaped that mess.

I still think you're the Best Sister Ever. There's always next year for chilling out at Burning Man.

I do hope everyone there will be o.k.

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GothicGremlin

I'm happy to report that my friends have all checked in and are safe. They're still there - none of them are planning on hiking out (which some people have done, apparently). Most of them view this as an adventure that they're well-prepared for.

Lane Simonian

I am glad that you did not go. From all reports it is a mess out there--people mired in mud and no vehicles going in or out. It was 63 for a high today in Reno. The high last year on this date was 104. We have had more rain in the last three days than we had for the entire summer. Hopefully, everyone gets out in the next few days.

SusanB-dil

GG, I also thought of you. Glad you ended up not going just this time, although I know you were disappointed. There are still folks stuck. Good your friends are all ok. I know you would have been worried about Peggy, too, had you been stuck there.

Emily 123

When I saw the 'Burning Man' in the title I knew it was you! LOL!

I heard the mud there is so alkaline that it causes really severe cracks in people's skin.

I hope that you and Peggy had a more peaceful weekend. Hang in there.

GothicGremlin

Ha @Emily 123 Who else would it be, right? 😄

We always joke that you have to treat the dust (or mud, in this case) as toxic waste and act accordingly. It really is that alkaline. We all bring spray bottles filled with vinegar so that we can spray our feet to counteract the alkalinity. And then when you go to sleep you slather your feet with lotion and wear socks.

Thank you for your kind thoughts about Peggy. She tested positive for covid today (so far it's a mild case), plus, she fell (she's unhurt). This is why I didn't go. Neither of these things seem to be serious, but they could have been.

@SusanB-dil Had I been stuck there, I would have been very worried. Turns out they made wifi more available (not sure how), so I could have at least gotten a message out and made arrangements for any additional care for Peggy. I wouldn't have felt good about it though.

One of my friends is still there - she's staying until Wednesday. The Man burns tonight at 9pm pacific time (20 min from now). There's a live webcast you can watch if you're curious. There's 8+ hours of wait time to leave (Exodus). This means you're going to be sitting in your car for at least that amount of time before you reach the paved highway.

So glad I skipped it this year.

Jgirl57

Indeed a bullet dodged! I know you are relieved your friends are doing ok.