The list

Packing for Burning Man has gotten much easier each time I've gone. Lists like this one and this one (.xls file) are really helpful, especially when going for the first time. Those lists are perfect if you're not too far, and packing up your car and driving to Black Rock City. But I live too far to drive, I'm flying into Reno and driving from there. There's no way I can fit all that stuff in my luggage; I have to buy some of it in Reno. What to pack and what to buy?

I pack all my costumes, some regular clothes, make up, shoes and boots, sleeping bag, tent, maybe a cooler, lights, gifts, goggles & dustmask, stove and that's probably it. I pack two duffel bags FULL, and stay one or two pounds under the airline's baggage weight limit with this stuff.

The rest is bought in Reno. We make a few stops around the city. First we usually go to a giant thrift store. We're looking for:

• full length mirror
• chair
• rugs
• pillow
• blankets
• cooking pot & utensils
• sharp knife

Next stop is Walmart (yeah maybe you hate Walmart, but whatever, we don't have many options). We're looking for anything we didn't find at the thrift store, plus:

• water
• sunscreen
• gold bond
• face wipes
• regular wipes
• soap/shampoo
• razors (shaving cream)
  
• tp
  
• batteries - D, AA, AAA, 9volt
• propane for stove
• large rubbermaid storage tote
• small ziplocks
• garbage bags
• recycling bags

Food either also from Walmart, of from a regular grocery store.

• beef jerky
• bagels
  
• muffins/breakfast bars
• clif bars
• cans of meaty soup
• tuna
• kd
• bacon salt
  
• chocolate &
  
• cheese
  
• apples
• limes
• carrots & celery
  
• sunflower seeds
• pumpkin seeds
• cranberry juice
• ground coffee
• rockstar coffee/double shots
  
• tonic
• vitamin water
• salt, pepper, spices

Plus anything else that looks yummy. Just a few things for the cooler, mostly non perishable stuff. Last stop is the hardware store, where we get lumber and hardware and tools to build our camp. Just one structure that's like our living room, with tents placed all around, so that when you leave your tent, you walk into the shady living room, not the blazing hot sun. This year we'll need a bit more lumber since we'll have a few cubes (from the last post) instead of tents.