I usually just say I went to a family reunion camping trip.

Most people will not understand any attempt to explain the concept.
Hell, a lot of the people who were there don't understand what it's about.

The best way I have found to describe Transformus is....

"It is like nothing we ever expect, yet it is everything we have ever dreamed!"

sounds vague I know but what can you say.

i wrote a blog entry about transformus, explaining what it was so my friends would understand. this is the first paragraph of it:

"or five days, myself and around 1700 other various artists, musicians, hippies, ravers, dancers, fire spinners, acrobats, and alcoholics were citizens of a town called Mysteria. in Mysteria, money is illegal, so the economy is based on gifting. that means that everything is given with no expectations of reciprocation or reimbursement. booze, trinkets, affection, cigarettes, food, music, entertainment, absolutely everything. the most important rule is that one must be a participant and contribute to the gifting economy in some way. there are no observers allowed."

peacefully chaotic weekend camping with all my camping friends

I have a couple:

Imagine if you were dropped somewhere with no food no clothes or anything. Strangers would approach you and say "welcome home" They would not only give you everything you needed, but they'd probably invite you into their space and include you in their plans without hesitation. Of course, they'd do this if they sensed you needed it even if you didn't ask. If you did ask, they wouldn't think it was weird or intrusive- they'd just figure you needed it. If you declined, they wouldn't be offended. Then you'd be motivated to try to make everyone else feel as welcome and you'd spend your time being creative and exploring a place that's based on principles that are really different from the bs we often experience out here. It's all about art and creativity and people.

I also tell this story (from 2008):
It was really hot and I was loading my van full of all the things I had used to build the costume camp. It was a big task because even though a couple hundred things were given away over the previous 3 days, there was plenty of great things left over that I'd give away another time. The half-full wardrobe boxes and all the tents and rugs and clothes racks I had out in the woods had to fit in the van. (they cock their heads when I say "clothes racks in the woods") I'd have to stop every now and then and pack more fabulous, costumey clothes that people dropped off for me to give away to some unknown people at a later date. Anyway, as I was packing my van a couple of people came by and said, "Oh no...we talked to you for like 5 minutes on Friday but never got to spend any time with you and now you're getting ready to leave." So, for the next two hours, they helped me in the scorching sun until the van was completely packed. I never asked them for help and even gave them an easy out, but they wanted to hang out. We talked and got to know each other a bit as we worked and they were truly thankful to spend the time with me. Then, we said our goodbyes and I drove off the property. The first person I encountered back in the default world (people cock their heads again on that term) was some guy on the road who wouldn't let me merge. I wanted to turn around and go back and figured the poor guy needed to come with me.

I usually end with- "You really have to experience it. It's hard to describe how cool the world can be when the priorities are right,"

it's wonderland. its home.

As it was first explained to me about Burningman: "It's a disneyland for adults" and " If you ever go chances are you will be back" I tell people the same thing when trying to explain what Transformus is all about.