Have I mentioned that I’m going to Burning Man this year? I’m not sure I have. I attended Burning Man in 1999 and 2000, and kind of doubted I’d ever be back. Like any mind-altering experience, the event has valuable lessons to teach, but once you’ve learned the most obvious of them, you have to leery of just going back for the good times and not learning anything.

That said, I’m just going back for the good times.

I bought my ticket and a camelback yesterday, but other than that, I’m trying to stay far away from the consumer crunch that seems to drive the freaks of America into an almost Christmas-like retail frenzy most Augusts. I already have a cooler. I already have plenty of weird clothes (although I do think I need a fishnet body stocking). I already have a tent and ear plugs and enormous water containers and a lot of the other things one needs at Burning Man. I’m investing in some EL wire for night-hooping, and then that’s it. No really! I swear!

I’m heading out with a group of friends who seem to be taking the whole thing equally mellow. The only thing we know about where we’re staying is this: quiet, hopefully.