>I know my guy can be off in his own little world now and then and that makes me nervous about being out there together,

You HAVE to get out into your own little worlds out there. If that makes you nervous....you're gonna have a terrible time! The best way to experience burning man with a significant other is to schedule some together times, but also go off and do your own thing. Frequently. Spending every moment tied at the hip is a recipe for disaster.

Also realize that everything is magnified up there (including crankiness and anger and frustration and exhaustion). You need to focus on not taking things personally, and also watch out for each other (gentle reminders to drink water/sit in the shade/eat food/put on sunblock, if one is cranky or seems heat-exhausted).

Relationships out there are notoriously made or broken. It just depends and you won't know until you are out there. For my relationship it made us who we are as a couple today. But everyone told us to be prepared to break-up. When your pushed like that in a harsh environment you really see who can be an adult and who can't. If you feel that your boyfriend/ex/working it out buddy could in any way act like a little b%$& and potentially ruin your burn, then I would keep your distance. It looks like you have put a lot of work/money/tears into this project and you should enjoy all of Burning Man even if you do have to camp somewhere else.

<<I know my guy can be off in his own little world now and then and that makes me nervous about being out there together>>

I think this is the key statement here. If you can't let him be, spare him and yourself and camp somewhere else. If you can come to a place where you can let him do what he wants to do and not make drama out if it, then camp together. And like someone else said, if he can't let you do what you want to do, camp somewhere else.

I think it's all about accepting differences and letting people be themselves on the playa.

why not camp in the same camp but not "together" have separate spaces etc.

Burning Man is notorious for amplifying whatever is in your relationship......good or bad. Going with my (now) husband was a great experience for us because we both realized we are reliable, considerate non-drama queens. He went with another girlfriend the year before and it was the catalyst for them breaking up.

Communication is huge, both before you get there and on the playa. You need to talk about your expectations, how much time you each think is appropriate to spend together and apart, what is OK with other people and what is not. And then talk about it again when it comes up out there.

It's a shame to think of not camping with the camp that you put so much work into. Having your own "home" within the camp might be a good compromise for having your own spaces but still enjoying the fruits of your labors.

I'd recommend camping in the camp you worked so hard on, but also in a separate tent and doing your own thing. This way your still part of your group, but not stuck with boyfriend if he ends up not being at the end of it.

For me, things are a bit tricky since I'm in a polyamorous V (f-m-f)and this is my first time going not-single. To make things easier we've all got separate tents, and my plan is to essentially act as if I'll be single - after all there is just so much to do out on the playa! And this way I'll have a different mindset than if I'm expecting him/me time. We still need to work out details (rules n such) but I think if you go with a more independent mindset it'll end up being more enjoyable

I'm encountering this issue for 2009 as well. I may camp with the person I've been dating for three months. We talked about it a bit before we last advanced our relationship status, and he said that he was kind of afraid to camp with me, because he had had relationships implode there. (It will be my 4th and I think his 10th). However, we recently hit our three-month mark and have decided it's good enough that we're going to aim for six months, with the tentative thought that, well, if we are both really as connected as we feel, perhaps we might even try and go on for a few years.

In light of the fact that we've decided to further commit to one another, I've proposed us camping together, a viewpoint he is coming around to. In my view, if we are in any remotely way serious about becoming more intimate partners for a long term, then the trial by fire that is camping together is essential. Seeing if we can each take care of ourselves, set boundaries, create rules that give us the freedom to play and explore, and temper jealousy... all important. If we break up because we can't honor these very important things, then it must not meant to have been.

He may still decide that he can't camp with me. But there have been a lot of firsts in our relationship together, so we'll see.

Kim, I'd say that in your case, it sounds less like relationship survival and more like relationship development, since you two are coming from a state of 'testing the water'. You will become closer or more distant based on the strength of your underlying relationship, which is admittedly fragile but possibly able to further blossom. Either way you go, I don't think you will make a wrong decision. :)

thanks everybody for the excellent advice... as fate has it our camp was not placed and has since fallen apart (a sign perhaps) so it was good planning on my part to look into another camp. Under the wonderfully accurate advice of my astrologer and the recent events of our relationship it was definitely a good idea to decide to camp elsewhere, since the big break up seems to be inevitable before we even set foot on the playa... bummer. I guess things will unfold how they decide to, however that may be, I'm just hoping he is mature enough to not do things specifically to make me jealous or hurt me out there since we won't be together. Crossing my fingers for a drama free burn! I hope all of you have a wonderful year as well!!!
<3