What's most important? Be open to adventure and have FUN!!!!! GOBA is a
blast. :-)

Regarding your specific concerns:

Noise 1 - port-a-pots: Definitely keep a distance, door slams are a nuisance
(just don't go so far away that it becomes a hike if, like me, you are
someone who has to visit them more than once a night).

Noise 2: Ear plugs - can't stress this enough unless you sleep like the
dead. I am a light sleeper but with the soft foam kind (Flents - 28(?)db
reduction), I had NO problems whatsoever. Take 'em wherever I go.

Tent 1: Go for quality here as suggested by others. I myself break this rule
- I use a 15 year old Hillary tent (Sears?) that leaks around the door
opening, but it is oversized for one person and I just position it so any
water that does get in will run downhill to one corner and then I keep my
things away from that area.

Tent 2 - tarp: Someone last year suggested getting a cheapo $2 shower
curtain liner instead of a tarp... I did this and it was the BEST ADVICE I
heard and worked perfectly, especially only needing it for 1 week.

Sleeping bag: As suggested this is not a critical element given Ohio in
June. Mine is as old as my tent and just a heavy cloth kind <- I had DCC SAG
support and no weight limits. If I had to do it the traditional GOBA way I
would go for a more compact, lightweight bag, but certainly wouldn't break
the bank on anything fancy. Put your $$$ into the tent and concentrate on
keeping things dry.

Pad: Some go for either battery or hand inflated air mattresses, but I swear
by a thin and old "egg-crate" style foam pad, rolled up right inside the
sleeping bag. Thermorest or similar pads work too. Nothing worse than waking
up on hard ground because you poked a hole in an air mattress.

Clothing 1: 3-4 sets of cycling clothes, only 2-3 sets of 'camping' clothes.
Remember: this is camping and 3000 people are all 'roughing it' same as you
are. Unless the extended forecast is unusually chilly for June, don't worry
too much about heavier clothes - but sweats pack way easier than jeans.

Clothing 2: Pack your 'sets' of clothes in gallon size Ziplocks (and
anything else that you want to stay dry. Also bring a few extras in case
they get holes or you want to repack or buy souvenirs/bargain clothing
during the week. 'Dry' is way more important than 'clean'.

Showers: In nearly all towns, shower trucks beat HS or fairground showers by
a mile. HOT water. I'm pretty comfortable with being 'grungy' for a bit and
just wait until a little later in the afternoon - shower lines drop to
almost nothing after about 4-5 pm - and you can still go to dinner 'clean'.

Have a great time on this years GOBA! Wish I were going this year but have
scheduling conflicts. I will at least be out on Thursday for the
Circleville/Hocking Hills Century loop. Awesome!

Kevin Dobo
Piqua, Ohio