What follows is a direct email I sent to my aunt Stacey, who will be gracing us with her playa prowess this year, after 6 years of hesitation! Hoorah! She asked about all the vitals she needs to remember to bring (mostly because no one else will bring them for her). It's being posted here to make a permanent home for the list so she (and myself : ) can refer to it as needed. I figure Grandma Poop Mouth might find this useful as well! (and don't worry, we'll come up with a much better playa nickname!) Everyone else, please post your additions!

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YO!

Compiled this handy list o' shit to bring to the middle of nowhere for you- and will probably keep sending them to you as I remember them:)

- h2o!! enough for drinking, cooking, *and* bathing (yes, we have a shower!)
- 347 tubes of chipstack (because you will lose them/lend them)
- goggles (i have a dark pair for day and a clear pair for night)
- skunkscreen (i have a bottle of spray-on stuff that doesn't have alcohol in it to dry me out)
- cup! (i have one for cold stuff like mixed drinks, and one for hot stuff like coffee and tea. they BOTH have lids and loops for carabiners)
***notice the duality of all these things? dark/light? cold/hot? remember that when packing clothes...you'll never know when you want to go all fallen-goth-angel after being all soft, hippy floaty all day***
- the cutest things you own (less is more! LESS IS MORE. if it's scratchy, leave it at home. if it's not PERFECT, leave it at home)
- the coziest things you own (i found a *super* soft blanket and cut a slit in the middle- insta-poncho! uggs, 19 pairs of socks, etc)
- laaaaayeeeers...if you're cold in your booty shorts, you don't want to put sweats on. leg warmers and a swanky scarf will do!
- clear tubs for EVERYTHING. lids keep out dust, and you can see your stash.
- camp chair
- lantern (battery powered means it can go in your tent)
- speaking of tents, soph has a heeeUUUUGE two-room tent, that you and mal are more than welcome to share with her.
- baby-butt wipes (with aloe, no alcohol)
- Aveeno (or similar) face wipes, that remove dirt and makeup.
- headlamp
- bike (with basket)
- glowy/blinkie shit for said bike (no one likes a darkwad)
- bandanas/dust mask
- portable ashtray (Altoids tins work well because they have a lid)
- 3,000 lighters
- secret stash (don't even tell me!)...because you'll be a goddess for pulling it out after 5 days of thinking we're out of everything good. (chocolate, good tequila/whiskey, champagne, etc)
- disposable cameras, because digital ones break and get stolen and get lost and because not knowing is half the fun
- spray bottle to keep you moistened and charged (and tasty oils to flavor the water!)
- carrying unit (i use a camelbak, some people use utility belts)
- earplugs (extras) and a sleep-mask for those daytime cat-naps