I’ve been to the Burn in Nevada twice (2018, 2019), and this is a good summary. I feel it as an extension of San Francisco culture before the 2008+ Tech boom. I moved there in 2006 from the ‘burbs after getting divorced and it was so refreshing being around people who were so open to variety and truthful expression…vs the usual rat race which is absolutely disgusting. It took me about 5 years to emotionally accept that there are other people out there who like me for just how I am, with all my quirks. I will never be able to go back to the monoculture…ew!

And this attitude is so important to everything. My job is risk management (cybersecurity plus associated technology risks), and my biggest challenge is stopping laziness and groupthink. I fight mediocrity and lack of creativity and seeing the big picture multiple times a day! And I’m largely alone in my leadership (but sr management supports me though). My experience with SF and Burning Man folks gave me the confidence and faith to do what I need to do—each of us, in our areas of expertise, can get stuck in a world of mediocrity if we don’t have the wherewithal to see above it.