Not going to Burning Man this year? Here's how you can keep the FOMO at bay

Normally at this time, I'd already be in Black Rock City. But I left on such a high note last year that I decided to take a year off. Still, I've been feeling tinges of FOMO and have been looking for ways to feel part of this year's Burn somehow. I thought some of you might be in the same boat (Mutant Vehicle?), so I'll share what I've been doing to stave off the FOMO from the comfort of my own home.

1. I've been watching the official livestream webcast. Apparently, Vimeo is sponsoring it and it's better than I've ever seen it. Crystal clear. Plus, the temperature of Black Rock City is posted in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. At 9 a.m., it was 89 degrees. Here in Alameda, where I live, it was 64 degrees at the same time. FOMO decreasing... (Seriously though, the webcast is terrific!)

2. I also signed up for the BMIR Phone Experiment 2019 which promises to put an on-playa Burner on the phone with me at some random time.

People calling you may or may not know anything about this sign up form, why they're calling you, or what's going on at all.

Feel free to say whatever you'd like or mess with anyone calling you. Really! Anything goes, but we ask that you aren't a racist, a perv, or a racist perv. Gee, thanks for that.

I haven't gotten a call yet but am looking forward to my first one.

3. I asked my friends on Facebook: "Who would you bring to Burning Man who's never been? If you could."

Answers ranged from the political (Barack Obama, Kim Jong-un, and Trump) to the familial (moms, dads, brothers, sisters, kids, and in-laws) to the artistic (Warhol, Dali) to the less known (Victor Pelevin, Muhammad Atta) and, of course, to the personal ("Me!").

BB readers: Who would you bring to Burning Man who's never been? If you could. And why? Answer in the comments!