I’ve been pretty cautious since the pandemic started. I flew cross country for the last time in March 2020, then started avoiding community events, grocery stores, meeting up with friends, etc. I wasn’t isolating as much as some immunocompromised people still are, but more than the vast majority of people I know. I flew again
We got a great deal on a rental cargo van and are now two weeks into driving around the spectacular landscapes of California. I quit my job right before the trip, so for the first time in almost four years, I am on a significant break. My reasons for leaving were to try to take
Eight weeks in a rental van is an ambitious experience! Everyone I talk to about this trip tells me they are very jealous. That’s a sign of a great plan. But I don’t see my friends making reservations for a van for several weeks. It’s harder to be staring the plan in the face, packing
Eight weeks. Two experienced campers. One rental Ford Transit cargo van from Hertz. And the great state of California to enjoy. We’ve all watched the #vanlife videos on Youtube, but those cute singles or couples always own their vehicle. They take out the flooring and the seats and sometimes even cut a hole in the
These hiking essentials are always with me when I spend an afternoon outdoors. Check out my favorite, most-used tools for being comfortable outside! The Best Sun Hat I have a Sunday Afternoons SPF 50 hat that does seem as effective as a layer of sunscreen. I would also recommend sunscreen (gotta protect that skin!), but
The outdoors can be rough on your legs. Here’s my honest review of my favorite hiking pants and outdoor gear. These pants will keep you comfy and stylish whether you are strolling through your local park or trying to survive rainy, snowy, or hot conditions. This post is all about the best hiking pants for
Travel makes our nonbinary selves more visible and makes people of all kinds more visible to us. Travel doesn’t have to involve going far. You can meet and get to know people from other places online. You can walk around your own town as nonbinary travelers and observe from a visitor’s perspective. As a nonbinary
We are here, and we are going to stay here. All around the world, cultures have people who are not men or women. Children who have never met a visibly nonbinary person or heard of the concept still sometimes grow up to be nonbinary. (Hello, it’s me!) Even if we are ignored, vilified, or bullied
Trauma responses are partially instinctual, partially learned behaviors that people do involuntarily in stressful or abusive situations. A trauma response may not be entirely in response to the current situation. If what’s happening now reminds a person of past trauma, even subconsciously, they may react as if the past trauma is happening now. This post
Martial arts training is one of the few situations where people learn how to yell. Most children are told not to yell or to be quiet; some children more than others. “Use your indoor voice!” Yelling can be a means of violence. Like learning how to punch or kick, learning how to yell in an
