Probably many of you have already started thinking about the 'stuff' you'll need at Burning Man to survive in the relatively hostile playa environment. There are hosts of gear lists available online, and plenty of "Burnerprenuers" who are ready and able to help you prepare.
However, the number one most important thing you can bring to Black Rock City is a positive attitude.
Sure; you've heard that before. We've all seen the theme poster in Coach's classroom, right? It may be cliched, but there is nowhere that saying is more true than at Burning Man. The playa has an interesting way of amplifying everything - the good and the bad. If you arrive feeling overwhelmed, stressed, tired, anxious, or anti-social, those thoughts and emotions will create a reality for you that will likely be very uncomfortable. That does put some pressure on you to keep your head together and your game face on. You can greatly control your experience in this way, for the good or the bad.
Preparing yourself emotionally and mentally for the challenges that the playa provides will go a long way toward making your experience as magical as you hope it will be. A good attitude toward exploration, adventure, and variety will also be amplified in BRC, and will more than likely attract a lot of beauty.
So what does this mean, exactly? It means that you have the power to create your own reality - so do it with purpose and clear intention.
This concept will translate itself through your actions. Getting to BRC can be really stressful - it's a logistical challenge at the very least - and how you handle the stress will affect your week on the playa. When you find yourself getting overwhelmed, pause, step back, take a deep breath, center your focus back to your highest purpose - having a great/spiritual/amazing/party week at Burning Man - and get back to it!
A concept a friend of mine cleverly dubbed "Playability" is an important aspect of your attitude. How open are you to all the different forms of human interaction? It's an important question to ask yourself, because you're going to experience people in a whole new way.
For instance, in 2009 I was tired from hours of flying and driving and just wanted to get into the city, get a tent set up, and steal a few hours of sleep before dawn. We were almost there... But I had two virgins in the car who needed to do their rituals at the Greeter's Gate on the way into the city. As soon as my friends were out of the car, a rather dusty fellow in a pink furry bunny costume, complete with assless chaps, was sitting in my lap (which was rather uncomfortable and cramped with the steering wheel in the way). He was quite - ah, how shall I say - affectionate, and also a little drunk. In the default world, a dirty drunken balls-out bunny would be allowed nowhere near my lap... But in BRC, the rules are a bit different, and I purposely shrink my personal 'bubble' just a bit.
I don't mean to suggest that you should allow anyone to do anything that you're truly uncomfortable with. There are BRC Rangers and other support staff there to assist you if you do have any trouble; don't be afraid to use them.
What I am saying is that you'll be interacting at new and different levels with people you may not have considered engaging. Prepare yourself now to be open to all sorts of people, from all over the world, in all sorts of clothing and costumes (or none at all). Be willing to bend instead of break; roll with it instead of fighting the flow.
You'll need to include the environment in your personal playability preparations. It's going to be hot. It's going to be cold. And most of all, it's going to be DUSTY. The playa is not made of sand, it's made of a light, alkalai-based dust. It rides the wind and is completely ubiquitos. You will have it in your ears, nose, toes, and teeth. It will be in your tent, shoes, gear, and vehicle - no matter how hard you try to keep it out. Accept it. Love it. Be a part of it, let it be a part of you, and always keep your dust mask and goggles with you. Being caught in a dust storm can be a daily occurrance, and it can be disorienting. But if you prepare yourself now to be accepting of the playa dust, you will find yourself much better prepared to put your discomfort aside and keep having a good time.
Just remember: You can do this! Nothing makes me feel more like a rock star than donning a mask and goggles and continuing to dance in a full white-out.
It's all about PLAYABILTY.
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