#also my car battery died and it took 6+ hours for AAA to come

[sheregenerated13]

I changed the Stardew Valley letters from 'Your Mom' and 'Your Dad' to be from 'Your Aunt' and 'Your Bestie' to be a bit friendlier to folks who have estranged parents, etc. I also changed some of the letter contents to make sense (from a friend, not parent, etc.)

I'll pin the file to the #gaymes channel in my LGBTQ safe space server if anyone needs it! Also in my thasmin!! server :)

[avancalledtina-blog]

5 lessons learned in 16 days of traveling...

1) It's okay to ask for help. Adversely, when help/kindness is offered, do not be to proud to accept. This is something I've struggled with my entire life, and have actively been trying to improve upon the past few years. My "can do" attitude routinely turns into a stubborn independent mentality with a backbone of not needing anything from anyone, and refusing help when it is offered. But after five hours of driving, ignoring the fact that I needed gas about 30km back, I zoomed right past where I was meeting a friend. The stress overwhelmed me and I backed right into a ditch. Stuck. Rear passenger wheel was making no contact with the ground. Amidst all my efforts, Tina wouldn't budge. I was hesitant to call my friend, but within minutes he showed up with a carful of Germans, a Spaniard and a Kiwi who pushed me out in seconds. They also lent me 10 liters of gas so I could make it to the next town to fill up. Without their help, I'd still be stuck in that ditch. In another bonehead move, I left Tina's lights on and killed her battery. I was stranded again, but in Wellington without my friend to fall back on. After procrastinating transferring my AAA membership to AA here in NZ, I knew I'd have to ask a stranger for help. Luckily, with a simple "Excuse me, is this your car? Mine is completely dead. Would you mind helping me with a jump?" A local was willing to help! Turns out I didn't even know where the battery was, (under the drivers seat....WHAT?!) but after his help I was on my way. Of course I didn't drive long enough to charge the battery, so I found myself dead again chasing down a campervan of Spanish girls about my age. They pushed Tina's lifeless body out of the stall she died in, and in no time I was on the road again! People are always willing to help, you just have to have the courage to ask! 2) Things =\= happiness. WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF? Seriously, think about all the things you own and more specifically, why you own them. Do they bring you joy? Do they serve a purpose? Most times the answer is no. So why keep them? To impress others? To convince yourself of something? Before I started this journey I began listening to a podcast called "The Minimalists." Just two guys focusing on enhancing their lives by ridding themselves of materialistic things, and learning that more stuff doesn't equate to more happiness. I took a hard look at everything in my life and got rid of so many things before I left. I was conscientious in what I brought with me to NZ, and it boiled down to the gear I would need on day/multiday tramps, clothes, and shoes. I downsized my gear, and fit all the clothes I'd wear for the next six months in three packing cubes that measure about 12 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. In total I brought one hiking pack, a small duffel bag, and a small backpack. Not bad to live on for half a year! It is so liberating to not carry the weight of all your junk on your shoulders (unless you're hiking of course 😉). 3) Do not fear change. It is how we learn to adapt and grow. Uprooting everything you know is scary. It's understandable why it's disliked. But I've experienced more change and need for adaptation in the past 16 days than I ever have before. My confidence has risen knowing that I'm prepared to handle any change that comes my way. Once you accept and know how to handle things are constantly changing, a problem that seemed big before will now look like nothing. 4) THINK BIG. Do not be afraid and do not limit yourself. Set goals and attain them, no matter how large or small. It's always possible. The road to achieving your goals may suck, you may have to work harder than ever before, but it's worth it. 5) Be kind, generous, and interested in others. What's the fun in being mean anyway? Solo travel means if I don't actively seek out strangers to talk to, I can go a whole day without speaking to anyone. The cool part is that everyone has a story. Usually they're pretty incredible too. Listen to their story not with the intent of replying, but to learn who they are. Who knows, you may gain a lifelong friend along the way. Cheers, Carlye

[sheregenerated13]

Update: I did get one letter from a parent since implementing my changes, but that letter wasn't in the mail file that I edited. I'm not sure where it's located, so unless I find it or someone else does, FYI that parent letters may still come, but at least most are replaced with lovely ones like this:

I changed the Stardew Valley letters from 'Your Mom' and 'Your Dad' to be from 'Your Aunt' and 'Your Bestie' to be a bit friendlier to folks who have estranged parents, etc. I also changed some of the letter contents to make sense (from a friend, not parent, etc.)

I'll pin the file to the #gaymes channel in my LGBTQ safe space server if anyone needs it! Also in my thasmin!! server :)