pinkitypinkpink (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} pinkitypinkpink) wrote,@ 2008-02-18 20:56:00 |
|
Frostburn
...was fun. I didn't go into it with high expectations (because, you know, winter camping w/ an unknown number of unfamiliar people at a campground that hosts both Pennsic *and* the Western PA Fairie Festival = something of a crap shoot, to put it mildly). But it turned out to be a really good time.
My first year at Burningman (1996) there were roughly 9000 people. No roads. No center camp espresso bar. No big organized events, aside from the burn. Mostly it was a week of wandering around talking to people, looking at/playing with art, sharing food + booze, and making sure everyone drank enough water. And that's kind of what this weekend was like, only on an even smaller scale.
A tiny percentage of annoying folks, but for the most part lots of fun, goofy, creative and outgoing people. One lone little kid, but he was pretty darn cute and his big people were relaxed enough to let him run around and explore without being fretted over constantly. Loads of good food everywhere you turned. Beautiful crisp sunny wintry weather. Crackling fires, once the wood dried out. Loud music echoing over the hills. A few blinky lights, a little el-wire, a wooden snowman effigy who burned after much cajoling and dousing of fuels. And blessedly little nudity for a burn (save for the Naked Mr. Rogers Sing-Along Sunday morning. I sang but kept my cardigan firmly buttoned up - unlike the fellow who performed a strip-tease to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?")
It was really pleasant and, I say this without the slightest bit of denigration intended, a cute little affair. Only an hour's drive away and without nearly as much stress of Burningman prep, and yet there were still a few moments where I felt like I was on playa-time and far removed from everyday life. It sounds terribly hippie to say it, but this event had more of a community feel than Burningman has ever really had for me. I had multiple conversations with the same people, rather than the drive-by "ooh i love your costume/art/theme camp" with dozens of strangers. I learned peoples' names. And remembered them the next day. I'm planning a party next month and intend to invite some of these folks. And I'm already making plans for Frostburn 2009.
...was fun. I didn't go into it with high expectations (because, you know, winter camping w/ an unknown number of unfamiliar people at a campground that hosts both Pennsic *and* the Western PA Fairie Festival = something of a crap shoot, to put it mildly). But it turned out to be a really good time.
My first year at Burningman (1996) there were roughly 9000 people. No roads. No center camp espresso bar. No big organized events, aside from the burn. Mostly it was a week of wandering around talking to people, looking at/playing with art, sharing food + booze, and making sure everyone drank enough water. And that's kind of what this weekend was like, only on an even smaller scale.
A tiny percentage of annoying folks, but for the most part lots of fun, goofy, creative and outgoing people. One lone little kid, but he was pretty darn cute and his big people were relaxed enough to let him run around and explore without being fretted over constantly. Loads of good food everywhere you turned. Beautiful crisp sunny wintry weather. Crackling fires, once the wood dried out. Loud music echoing over the hills. A few blinky lights, a little el-wire, a wooden snowman effigy who burned after much cajoling and dousing of fuels. And blessedly little nudity for a burn (save for the Naked Mr. Rogers Sing-Along Sunday morning. I sang but kept my cardigan firmly buttoned up - unlike the fellow who performed a strip-tease to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?")
It was really pleasant and, I say this without the slightest bit of denigration intended, a cute little affair. Only an hour's drive away and without nearly as much stress of Burningman prep, and yet there were still a few moments where I felt like I was on playa-time and far removed from everyday life. It sounds terribly hippie to say it, but this event had more of a community feel than Burningman has ever really had for me. I had multiple conversations with the same people, rather than the drive-by "ooh i love your costume/art/theme camp" with dozens of strangers. I learned peoples' names. And remembered them the next day. I'm planning a party next month and intend to invite some of these folks. And I'm already making plans for Frostburn 2009.
