Oof. That is bleak, and all the more so because you’re probably dead on

How is offering users the option to set a backup/recovery email a dark pattern?

One of my new favorites when trying to decide if something is worth doing - “Is the juice worth the squeeze?”

Wichita Lineman is excellent - “the first existential country song”

Where are you planning to go?

Fortunately, I have advanced degrees and an internationally recognized professional certification, and my partner is a doctor. I don’t imagine emigrating would be easy by any stretch, but I think we’d have better odds than if we didn’t have those credentials.

Good point on Canada. I’ve also been looking at Panama or Costa Rica. Europe may be an option (I work in clean energy and remember Macron’s outreach to climate scientists after Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement), but may be harder.

Oh, and someone here reminded me: cannabis. Lots and lots of it.

I shudder to think about how poorly I’d be handling things if I didn’t have cannabis lol

I feel you on voting with your feet. I left beet-red Indiana for a Democratic-leaning swing state a few years ago. And yet, once you get outside the city by just a few minutes, it’s Trump signs everywhere. Doesn’t feel very reassuring.

It’s cliche to talk about moving to Canada after a US election, but I have started to collect my passport and papers and look at multiple countries for ease of entry, in case shit hits the fan.

What exercise plan, if any, are you following? I let my fitness slip pretty hard during COVID, and haven’t had good luck getting back into the groove with anything I’ve tried so far

Very true. And more easily said than done, unfortunately.

I used to be much more into meditation and reading Buddhist literature. I reflect on that time in my life as being happier and more peaceful (I was also exercising a lot more then too). I’ve started going to a yoga class a few times a month, but I wish I had an easier time getting back into the rest of it.

Who do you think you’re helping with this?

I think you’re totally on point! I think that’s similar with other religious or spiritual practices, like specific meditations, spells, or rituals - you’re priming yourself to be more aware of opportunities to achieve that goal

They’re good background music while studying, but not for any magical reason. Some just sound nice

Haha well I feel less concerned now

Well shoot, I guess it’s time to get a new security key. Am I better off switching to a NitroKey?

Yoga. It’s a great way to start the week off on the right foot by dedicating some time to taking care of myself, and nice slow stretch feels really good