LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

What’s up space cadets?! We are back at it again. This time you have journeyed our current dimension far and wide in search of this. You have jam packed every inch of your moving ship, leaving no space unfilled. Having relocated and rebuilding a make shift shelter to call home and reside in within your permitted use, you realize you have no idea who the fuck your neighbors are.

The people to your left? You may know them. Maybe you went to high school together. Played sports and aced the same test hung-over together. The people to your right? Maybe you know them through work. Seeing how you spend the majority of your week together in reality trying to make a living, why not LIVE together? Maybe the person setting up the tent in back of you is a member of the same social media group page who hitched a ride with you and your crew on your mission here. You have acquainted yourself well enough with this dope ass interwebs person to open up your home to them. But who the fuck are those guys across the way with the selfless giving lemonade stand in the front of their tents offering lemonade to any and all who walk by? Oh, those guys? They’re your neighbors.

See… the one thing no amount of festival preparation can equip you for is the ability to know what type of exotic earthlings you will co-exist with during your stay. However, one thing is almost always certain about your neighbors …… they will brighten up your time home and make camp exciting to come back to.

From rounds of shots and bartering, to sharing do-not-miss set’s and looking out for one another’s camps, you may not have known who your neighbor was an hour ago but you have grown to trust them more than you do your friends back home. Enjoy them. They have without a doubt delivered them geeky vibes you had hoped for, making your stay here that much more.

You name it, this chick could cook it for you.

I am torn on who is better to snag a campsite around. Camping noobs or vets?! Why do I love landing myself around some noobs? Noobs always come extra hard. They have not only packed any item you may have found yourself needing but accidentally forgot, they come ready to feed the block. I remember one camping noob we had met waiting in line to get into Bisco 2014 who needed 6 of us surrounding her and her roommate to help move them into camp. She brought her entire kitchen. Cutting boards, a variety of cooking utensils, a tasteful variation of spices, steak, chicken, bacon, eggs, watermelons, all different sized Tupperware to store left overs in, etc. You name it, this chick could cook it for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she packed cookie cutters to cut the food into fun shapes to make all of us weird kids smile. I’m not kidding you, she had it all, from food to luxury comforts of home to fun little surprises. It was a 2-day expedition of multiple trips with a solid crew helping her out to lug everything from two cars up the mountain and into camp.

Camping vets are where it’s at though too. They tend to pack lighter but just as efficient. They have gone through these camp trial and tribulations enough times to know what to bring and what to fling. They know exactly what it is you need to survive without the excess baggage. They absolutely have it down to a profound science. They have earned their rank as Captains of this ship so take notes. This is lesson given by them without command. Let them sail you in a direction that essentially lightens your future load all while still remaining prepared.

At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter who you are. A camping noob or vet. It doesn’t matter if you are dressed in bold neon from head to toe or rocking some spacy psychedelic jump off shit you scored from your last fest. We are all here and while we are all here we took an unspoken oath to help and love the next guy.

In our willingness to extend our helping hands, we have extended our hearts. We have begun to love thy neighbor. Every year moving forward, not only do we have new businesses popping up on our new home blocks, we have a family to come home to. A squad.

So go ahead. Accept your new neighbors. Indulge in their lemonade offerings ….. it’s not like you’re taking candy from a stranger. I have included some ways to help you embrace your fellow ship mates. Enjoy cadets.

TEN COMMANDMENTS
TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

1. Introduce yourself to thy neighbor
   Don’t be shy, say hi.
2. Invite thy neighbor
   Let them come on by and give them plenty of HIGH fives and smiles.
3. Unify with thy neighbor
   Come together …. right now.
4. Help thy neighbor
   Extend a helping hand …. Help them with their tent poles.
5. Respect thy neighbor
   I am me and you are you and we are all the same.
6. Look out for thy neighbor
   Keep an eye on their camp while they are away.
7. Trust thy neighbor
   Feel confident in knowing they are doing the same.
8. Feed thy neighbor
   Don’t be a wiener, invite them for diener.
9. Supply thy neighbor
   Share your party favors and if you find Waldo before they do, get them the hook up.
10. Co-exist with thy neighbor
    Keep the PEACE. Spread the LOVE. Harmonize in UNITY. Overflow with RESPECT.

    Photo Credit: Nikki Rathjen – Okeechobee 2016 – Shots with our new neighbors