The Culture of Burning Man

Participating at Burning Man is being part of a co-creation that is experienced as a time very much distinct from life in the "default" world. Everyone engages the same sweltering heat and the same blizzardy dust storms that can limit visibility to less than an inch. Culture jumping is possible if not welcome. All camps welcome visitors whether for scheduled "events" or just dropping in. Age and class distinctions become blurred. Everyone is fair game for flirting--flirting not in quest of a long-term "one" but for pristine moments. Sometimes the moment is simply an extra-long glance, other times its a half-hour conversation in a chill space while the afternoon wind spins the sand in circles, a wide-ranging chat while waiting in line for a free plate of pancakes and of course a spark can kindle a fire. Mostly it doesn't. And that perhaps is the beauty of being at Burning Man. Every moment just is.