A Humanist activist who lives as a digital nomad, exploring how to apply Humanist values in a traveling lifestyle outside a single fixed community. Follow along on Anya's journey for her unique perspective on life, politics, and more.
Hello from a New Chapter In My Life!
Hi, ReaderI’m writing to you from Pasadena, and boy have I been busy in the last eight weeks. I meant to get around to sending an email last month, but between all the moving around, the wedding, getting COVID, resigning from the AEU, and some personal drama with friendships, it just didn’t happen. But now I’m back with big updates! Catsitting in Chico, CAPhil and I spent a week in June watching our friend Dan’s cat Scooter while he and his son went on vacation. It is very, very hot in that part of California around this time of year. I’m talking 110℉+ (43℃+) every day. It was pretty brutal. We drove back down to LA at the end of that week to catch our flight to Guatemala City. I ended up driving us through a fire in Gorman, California (The Post Fire). These were some of the scarier driving conditions I’ve dealt with. We did, however, arrive safely. Phil captured some wild photos of the smoke and the coloring of the sky. We should never forget how thinly we are tethered to climate stability. Wedding in Guatemala CityOur friends Ana and Alejandro got married on June 22 at a finca in Guatemala City. I had the honor of being a bridesmaid, and it was a beautiful wedding on a day with gorgeous weather (after a whole week of rain!). Phil and I had a ton of fun, and we are so happy for our friends. Recovering from COVIDWe got back to LA, and I tested positive for my first COVID infection. Fortunately, Phil was able to avoid catching it. While most of the physical symptoms were pretty mild (I’ve been vaccinated five times now), fatigue and depression hit me hard. I did a lot of sleeping and fighting off The Big Sad. I do not want to catch COVID again merely because of how horrible the emotional effects were. It was like I had no happy brain chemicals to speak of. Y’all... we really should be masking more. The 4th in Hat Creek, CAAfter a couple of negative COVID tests and feeling better, I was able to spend a few nights up in Hat Creek for the annual 4th of July trip with Phil’s friends. It was a nice break, camping in the volcanic foothills of northern California. My Resignation from the American Ethical UnionAs of July 14, I have officially resigned as Secretary of the American Ethical Union Board. My experience as a young person on that board has so severely impacted me that I also decided to step away from the Ethical Culture movement as a whole. Thus, my lifelong connection to the movement ends. My experience has been that of a hostile environment characterized by unaddressed, unresolved conflict between board members who refuse to engage in conflict transformation. This conflict has been shaded by an unwillingness to address white supremacy culture within the system earnestly and an Ethical Society holding the organization financially hostage over a conflict with moving goalposts. My social location as a young person and a woman left me particularly vulnerable in a system that does not protect its youth or account for differences in how power can be accessed and used within that organization. Ethical Culture, which has been declining as a movement for years, is ostracizing and undermining the youth seeking to help it grow and evolve. I am one of the few young people who grew up in Ethical Culture and stuck around to participate as an adult. This movement meant so much to me that I got a tattoo of the AEU logo when I was 18. I’ve now covered that tattoo with something new — a pinecone — as a symbol of the grief and trauma I hope to transform into a new, life-giving investment for my time, expertise, and other resources. Thank you to those who have supported me and bestowed their wishes on me as I enter this new chapter of my life. So What’s Next?
When you hear from me again next month, I will likely still be in Pasadena, but I’m not sure yet! Thanks for following along with me, Writer | Marketer | Activist | Humanist | Digital Nomad |
The Nomadic Humanist
A Humanist activist who lives as a digital nomad, exploring how to apply Humanist values in a traveling lifestyle outside a single fixed community. Follow along on Anya's journey for her unique perspective on life, politics, and more.
Hi, Reader I've been struggling to sleep at night because my Gazan friend is in trouble. As you know, Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. The situation in Northern Gaza is particularly bleak, and there is little hope for a positive change in the situation anytime soon. Haneen Qanetta is a friend of mine. She is 24 years old and lives in northern Gaza with her parents and six siblings. Before the war, Haneen was in nursing school. This is Haneen The Qanetta family lost...
Hi, Reader We arrived in Bangkok on September 26th. The flight from Los Angeles to Xiamen, China, was about 15 hours, and the flight from Xiamen to Bangkok was about 3 hours. All told, it was probably 24 hours door to door. But we made it, and we love it here so far! Bangkok from our balcony in the neighborhood Thong Lo This is my second time in Asia. I lived with and worked for my Uncle in Hong Kong for a few months in 2011. This is Phil's first time in Asia. Both of us are enjoying Bangkok...
Hi, Reader I'm writing to you from my dear friend Marit's house in Pasadena, California. If you read my last email, you might recall that this is not where I said I would be this month. I said I was still going to be in Oaxaca, Mexico. Well, I can explain. Marit's dog Loki imitates some kind of Renaissance painting Plans Change A few things happened in Oaxaca to end our time there early, but the driving reason behind leaving was the drought. Oaxaca can only supply something like 30% of the...