Rusty's Burning Man Camp: "As Is"

Black Rock City (the city constructed from scratch in the desert every year for Burning Man) is composed of residential camps and public art areas. We named Rusty's camp "As Is" - thanks J Beverage for that name!

Camp "As Is" works really hard and we have high standards for ourselves, but we know when to avoid the trap of perfectionism. Our "as is" is still awesome. "As is" gives us permission to be ourselves even everything isn't going perfectly.

The As Is camp at Burning Man was mostly a tent camp. We had:

• a shared sleeping tent for five people

• a shared "stuff tent" for those same five people

• two RV's as sleeping quarters and "getting there" transportation for three of our campmates

• a single tent for one of our campmates

• a shared kitchen tent with adjacent shaded porch

• a geodesic dome for lounging

• parking spaces for The Rusty Iris and her supporting truck and trailer

• space for a mobile metal shop and a fire spinning stage

• a private porta-potty that we rented - yay!

Each camp has an address on the street system of the City. Our address was 2:30 and C. That put us close to the Esplanade - the main street running along the playa - very convenient when rain made the roads difficult.

Our street was also called "CherryH" because, as Burning Man explains:

"As an expression of this year’s theme, Tomorrow Today, our streets have been named for visionary writers exploring the intersection of humanity with technology, the environment, politics, and identity in various speculative futures, ranging from dystopian cautionary tales to complex, visionary worlds."

"C.J. Cherryh – Explores complex, multi-species societies and intricate political systems, often in space. Her works, such as Downbelow Station, delve into the consequences of human expansion and interaction with alien civilizations."

Our camp was mostly built by Kirk, Wendy, and Ayden - lots of work for just those three. The dome was a whole-team project.

Kirk, Wendy, and Ayden did such a great job building our camp that when the 79mph winds came, they didn't blow down our camp - though the whole team helped hold it together during that storm. (See the complete post about that adventure here.) Lots of less fortunate Burning Man campers lost their camps in the storm or had major damage.

Our camp was the place for sleep, meals, team meetings, connection and reflection, and rest from the mid-day heat.

Camp was also our launching-off point for adventures on the playa and in the rest of the City. Transportation around the city is by bicycle since the City is so big and art cars are the only automobiles allowed to drive.

Sly and Fly brought an electric rickshaw to the playa. More of her story in a future post!

Camp was also a refuge from the weather, especially when we got dust storms and rain the first few days. The dust and mud is so intense that there is no point in trying to walk or ride your bike. Just chill in camp until it clears and dries.

Since camp was also Rusty's home, it was here that we did last minute work to get her ready for the big show.

Camp was also a fire spinning stage! Lar and Viva's fire poofers were fantastic, and Bad Hat Fire is always a treat.

When you arrive at Burning Man, you are greeted with the phrase "Welcome Home." It's a way of expressing that Burning Man is a place where you can feel safe to be your authentic self. Camp As Is was our home within Home. A place of reflection and connection within an almost overwhelming environment of challenge and inspiration.