As we get closer to the Burn, I thought it would be a good idea to reiterate some of the benefits of attending for people 50 and over.  These are, of course, subjective views, but they’ve survived the test of time and seem pretty solid as they affect my life.

The first of these is a lesson I learned as a Virgin Burner – going to Burning Man makes you feel younger.  When I came back from my first Burn I felt like I had shed at least 10 years off my age.  I not only felt younger, but I also felt sharper and more alive.

Second, I felt happier, more optimistic and less constrained by my life.  Burning Man had opened new doors for me, including a receptivity to all kinds of people whom I might have ignored or rejected in the past.  I took the “radical inclusion” policy to heart and found plenty of room in my life for everyone I met.

Third, I began to see and appreciate the whimsy of Burning Man in all aspects of life.  There was fun all around me that I hadn’t even noticed before – not just on the Playa, but back home as well.

Sex: it's all around you at Burning Man

Fourth, I felt sexier – more erotically attuned to my wife and myself.  Burning Man is like a honeymoon for us every year, and the effect lasts far beyond the playa.  That’s because there’s an undeniably erotic atmosphere that surrounds Burning Man.  Sex is out front and positive at Burning Man, as opposed to buried deep within our psyches and under society’s shadows in the default world.

Fifth, I felt creative.  Observing all the creative works (not to mention the creatively attired people), gives me a new sense of creative possibilities for myself and the world I inhabit.  I come back inspired to add more creativity to the world and my life.

All in all, Burning Man turns out to be my own private Fountain of Youth (despite the lack of water), and I think it will be the same for anyone in our age group who has even the inkling of an adventurous spirit.

Enjoy your time on the Playa and see how much younger you grow.