I've yet to meet a Burner! What was it like??
It's huge. My first night there we walked out to the central area, first thing I saw was a 50 ft tall sculpture of a woman that breathed. It kinda set the tone for me, everything there is larger then life. There's so many incredible projects that anywhere else you would pay $40 and wait in line for a few hours to see. The community there is fascinating. It's a gift economy, no money, no bartering. Everywhere you go people seem like they are actively looking to help you out. Theme camps organize and offer things from free bars to hair salons, the community really provides for each other. It reminded me a lot of hubski actually, people trying to do something different through a community setting a higher standard. Like hubski, there were definitely a few jerks. But they were largely overwhelmed by all the sincere people trying to lead by example. The other thing worth mentioning is the whole event is designed to push your boundaries. You are never comfortable, with the fine dust coating your lungs, the sweltering days or the freezing nights. People seem to use that as a theme, from nudity to drug experimentation, everyone seems to be stepping outside normal comfort zones. I like it, it's refreshing to question those boundaries. Some are definitely keepers but others I really don't need, I'm definitely more comfortable in my own skin after going. Sorry for the long response. It's hard to describe, and frustration has been building up after a week of telling my coworkers "oh it was nice". Can't exactly share with them the stories about the naked carcass wash or the guy who peed in the tardis. Basically it was great, I'd recommend it.
I have lots of burner friends, but I have just recently built up the confidence to go to bars by myself. I don't like crowds. Though I have been to smaller burner gatherings. The best was a fire spinning fundraiser, fire everywhere and a pool. It was like a tropical pagan festival. That was amazing, I can't imagine what the real thing is like.