Burning dilemma

There was a period back in the mid-00s when I harboured a desire to attend the Burning Man Festival, but the logistics always defeated me, and in the end I sadly accepted it was never going to happen, consoling myself by taking in the Second Life version instead.

More recently, as my life has progressed and I have become somewhat less encumbered by responsibility, the thought of going has entered my mind again, and when I read last month that tickets were more available than usual this year I wondered if I should drop everything for a quick transatlantic trip.

Predictably enough I didn’t get my act together, and just as well, as it’s turned out fairly grim. (Though not by all accounts; some people seem to be having a fine time). In any case I would probably have felt a bit conflicted by the inflation of my carbon footprint consequent on such a frivolous excursion, as well as the environmental cost of the festival itself, not to mention the morality of lavish expenditure in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Perhaps I can recreate the vibe on a more sustainable scale by getting stoned and lighting some garbage on fire in my own backyard this weekend…