We use a tent, tarps, sleeping bags, ground cover, extra blankets, I've
found air mattress or foam is really an added benefit~~to keeping dry,
warm and comfortable at night.  Before I had accumulated these items I
used to take heavy duty lawn bags to store all my extra*dry*clothes and
turn that into a sleeping pad.  The ground takes the heat right out of
you and getting off of it can make the difference in comfort and safety.

                -Warm clothing and rain gear:
                -Sunglasses and appropriate head gear for climate:

It must be suitable for your climate.  I've found you can't have to many
socks for *our* weather and rain gear;) #EXTRA Dry clothes can be left in
the vehicle and retrieved later if needed.  I keep extra around.
 
                -Your own cup, bowl and spoon:

I like to have an extra set in case I space the other and it happens;)

                -Flashlight with extra batteries:
Yes I even like having more than one flashlight small, med. and large
                -there is no such thing as to many batteries;)

I like to bring a couple of candles also.

                -Your own stash of quick *snack* type foods:

Granola, trail mix, crackers, peanut butter, dried fruits and drinking water.
Meals are prepared in a communal kitchen for all to share but sometimes you
might miss a meal or just need some extra nutrients in between meals.

                -Small personal first aid kit:

Depending on season and climate it should include sunscreen, bug repellant
and snake bite kit (they're small and inexpensive) read directions before
you get to the woods.  Yes sunscreen esp. if it snows!!
 
                -Your own perscription items whether Rx, over the counter,
                 herbal, homeopathic, etc.
 
                -Toilet paper, personal hygiene needs for sisters, toothpaste,
                -soap (unscented)~~note~~important to keep away from
streams!! stay away from anything with perfume in it you never know
          *What* might like the way it smells...I'm a fan of Ivory
          and a couple of natural unscented products I won't list.

I use to pack moistened wash cloths in a ziploc bag but ~unscented handiwipes~
like the ones used for babies are good for personal cleansing when bathing
is limited.  You can take them out of the box and ziploc them to reduce bulk.

                -Small shovel or trowel:

Sometimes a shitter and regular shovel may not be handy;)!

                -Musical instruments, face paints, fun stuff:^> to entertain
                 yourself and others:"}!  *insert Imagination here*
 
                -Drive legal!! Bring good vibes and love to share!!

We keep our driver's license, registration and proof of insurance on the
dash for easy access.  Make sure vehicle lights, brake lights and turn
signals work.
 
**NOTE**If you must bring your non-human family with you, be sure their
needs are anticipated.  Nanook carries his own backpack for food, bowls,
shovel.  It also includes a nice long cable for a dog run.  This way we
know he's not killing the other small animals in the area, getting into
food or fights and we know where his sh*t is so we can bury it.  It's no
fun finding a pile of dog-do near your tent or in main meadow where we
sit for our meals:(

He's a friendly happy Siberian who has never started a fight with another
dog but other dogs have jumped him to fight.  So we don't take any chances
because he could get hurt, a child or another animal could be hurt. I can't
stress this enough because I understand how some folks insist on letting
their dogs run loose and it's always a problem that could turn into some-
thing more than a minor nuisance.  We've had to treat injuries (dogs, kids
and adults) that have happened because dogs weren't kept on a leash!

%%%uuumm......I think that covers the personal list now for what to bring
to share!  WOW....I'll just run down the potential....starting with what I
think is a must.

                -COFFEE;), Sugar and Tobacco:

These items usually aren't covered by the magic hat!  I'm a coffee drinker
and Gary loves his sugar and smoke so we try to take a bunch in with us for
the kitchens.

                -Seasonings, dried fruits, nuts, anything organic & veegan:

A welcome site at gatherings are the kind of things not usually or easily
picked up for a supply run. Miso, soy, tahini sauce those nifty items you
might want to cook with.

                -Dried beans, lentils, pasta, rice, flour, corn meal,
                 oatmeat, cooking oil, powdered/canned/soy/rice milk
                 are staples.
 
I usually raid my kitchen before I go.  Produce and breads are nice to
bring.  Some folks contact our local bagel shop on a regular basis and
just pick it up, as soon as they pull it from their shelves and goes
out the back door!
 
                -Tarps, rope, string, candles, batteries, shovels, bleach,
                 dish soap, scrubbies, 5-gallon buckets, duct tape, large
                 cooking pots, pans, propane for lanterns, lanterns, axes
                 saws, matches, lighters, black markers, *live aloe plant*

                -Medical Supplies:

Aspirin, tylenol, bandaids, gauze, tape, immodium, burn ointment, betadine,
antibiotic cream, ace bandages/splints, kling type wrap, steri-strips, eye
wash, antacid, gas remedy (mylican or gas x tablets) tweezers, scissors,
q-tips....uuuuummmmmmm....all usesful stuff for a CALM/MASH type station.

%%Obviously you're not going to bring it all, unless you're like me and I
*DO* bring the kitchen sink with me;)......this list covers the array of
possibilities, that are routinely nice to have at the gathering.

**Most important is to bring yourself, loved ones and good vibes:*]
Coming as prepared as possible, for your own needs, is the First Priority.
Then anything you would like to contribute to share will be appreciated.

Much love, hugs, and warm wishes for your first gathering and BTW

"WE LOVE YOUUUUUU":):)

Dragonfly

    This is a list of things that the average, middle class american
attending a gathering would find useful.

    You will probably have to carry all your stuff in on you own back for
at least two miles  (Minnisota was 10!).  As an avid hiker said real
luxury is the stuff that is Not on your back.  You don't need everything
off this list.  Pick the things you care about.

  Cup and Spoon:  Bring your own utincels!  Don't share them!  Clean them
well and carefully!  I could tell you things about trench mouth and
shengella that would raise your hair.  As you may have gathered, most if
not all kitchens will have cleaning stations.  These really are adiquate
to keep your utencils clean.  I can tell you from bitter experience it is
better to clean at a slightly scuzzy looking cleaning station in a kitchen
than in the wonderfully clear looking crick you see by a path.  Amazingly,
microbials don't show but do give you the runs (at best).  Although a
little Dr Bronners is great for cleaning out dinner ware as well as
everything else, that would be as far as I would go.  Skip the dishsoap.
Besides your cup and spoon, a fork and pocket knife and bowl are real nice
to have.  Chances are you will be sitting in a large circle with people
slopping food out of a bucket onto your plate.  If you want to drink while
you eat  (one of my foibles) bring Both bowl and cup.

    Food.   You can get all you NEED at a kitchen.  Just remember that a
lot of people there are vegitarian.  If you really want meat, bring
something like jerky or kippered snacks.  A little trail mix in the pack
is a godsend when you get the midnight munchies and don't feel like
walking the half mile to the only kitchen with food.  If you don't eat at
main circle, eating becomes a catch as catch can sort of thing.  After
North Carolina I bring all my own food and water for the whole trip, but
that's just me.  Keep in mind that there are no refrigerators, ice
vendors, or privite fires.  That leaves nonparishables.

    Water.  Drink tea from the tea kitchens that you know are well boiled
and you will be fine.   One of those hiker's filters is great, but if you
flaunt it, it might get pressed into service to everyone who knows about
it. $$$

    Money.  Except for what you put in the Magic Hat you will have no use
for it.  But it's nice to contribute what you feel comfortable giving, and
it's nice to have it while geting to and from the gathering.  My usual
budget for the entire trip is about $300.  But I travel with frugal
friends.  Bail could cost you much more.

    Drugs.  They are occationally donated, but I've seen a lot of truly
pathetic souls begging for it.  Getting them in and out is scarry.  On the
other hand I've gotten to the higher planes just fine without them.
Amazing what a good Ohm will do!

   Shelter.  I assume you don't have a tipi. ;-}  A tent is a real good
idea.  Besides  rain and wind (when you'll probably huddle in a kitchen
anyway)  a tent is a wonderful base of opperation.  You can hide your oh
so politically incorect meat products in there, have a (hopefully) dry
place to put your bedrole  (I STRONGLY recomend some bedrole type bedding)
and even your roles for fat when you want to sprawl naked.  NO, we aren't
ALL nudists.
     I got my first tent from Farm and Fleet ten years ago for $30.  I
hear they are all the way up to $45 now.  (Those dome tents are especially
nice for putting up in the dark, compared to what we had before them).  It
was fine in a normal rain, but had to be augmented with tarps in the
tropical places (like Missouri).  Tarps under and over are a good idea.
Some kind of pad to go between the bedrole and the rocks will make a big
difference in how well you sleep.  I don't care where you think you're
going.  There will be rocks.  But remember, this is all going on your
back.
    I have seen people build some really cool shelters with just the
materials at hand.  It's cool, but I can't help but feel it's a little
selfish to take up so much fallen wood when the kitchens are always
running short.  My first gathering I just took a role of plastic, like you
use to cover windows in winter.  Someone called my little lean-to and
aquarium.  Get a tent.

    Cloths:  At least one change.  If you have to wear a clean set every
day and plan on staying a while, plan on doing laundry too.  More than
five sets of cloths get too heavy and bulky for packing.  People there
will be wearing all kinds of things.  Satin and velvet are lots of fun,
but don't hold up well in the mud.  Just count on everything getting
grimy.  If it's dry clean only, you can visualize what condition it will
be in after the gathering.  Layers are wonderful;  a t-shirt at midday
covered by a long sleave shirt at evening covered by a sweater at night
will USUALLY be enough.  In Colorado I'd recomend a jacket.  Usually you
won't even need the sweater.  But when you do you really do and so does
everyone else.  Hiking boots.  Or at least tennisshoes.  Hiking in on
sandles what get wet along the way can be a real drag.

Little stuff that's nice to have:

   A flashlight is great.  I have found my night vision has done me more
good than the flashlight on several occations.  But I have also stubbed my
toe a lot too.  (yes I know I should be wearing shoes, but the mud feels
so much better between my toes.  OOOOOh, Aaaah).  Flashlights can save you
lots of time once you get near your tent.   Your landmarks will change
every day, and it can take some work to get to your bed, especially late
night on the fourth.  Just remember to grab it before dark.  (ask me about
walking around in a gathering with nothing but candles some time).
    Bug repelant (this could take up a whole thread), sunscreen, medical
kit (we're talking the kind with band aids and antibiotic cream here), a
hat (I got a second degree sunburn on my scalp once),  Extra pair of shoes
(if you actually wear them), moleskin (stuff to prevent blisters.  Get it
from the "sporting goods", camping supply type, store).  Toothbrush,
deoderant, etc.  A towel is a wonderfully decadant thing in the woods.
Things you love and with to share or trade (feathers, beadwork, whatever)

  Put it all together with a frame pack.  I have gone in with a makeshift
day pack (the kind you cary books in around campus), in a childs wagon,
and on bicycle.  I strongly recomend the frame pack.
 

    I'm sure there's more, but these are the things I have really
appreciated having and/or really regretted to having.  Now that you have
your camp set up, go collect fire wood for the local kitchen

Happy Camping

Montana Crystal