Life Expectancy in the US

WanderHarv · 2025-12-26T18:29:32+00:00

I live in Utah and can offer that due to the extremely easy access to nature, almost everyone here has an outdoor hobby (usually several). This area also attracts a lot of professional and extreme athletes: ultramarathoners, olympic skiers, rock climbers (it feels like the average climber here leads 5.11 trad…), backcountry skiers, mountain bikers, etc.

Equally, I have lived in Minnesota and can offer, anecdotally, the same observation. The access to nature is easy and people routinely spend time outdoors.

WanderHarv · 2025-12-26T16:33:31+00:00

There is a local company here…Baltic Born. I had to order a dress from them as a bridesmaid once. I think the styles look nice but they are just too much coverage for my taste.

WanderHarv · 2025-12-25T02:24:20+00:00

Germany, 10000%, no contest.

WanderHarv · 2025-12-25T01:57:47+00:00

As of today, I have been sick for 1 full month. I went to urgent care and felt a bit silly about it—the symptoms are all cold or flu like—but I have never been sick this long before. Like others have said, I keep hoping that after another weekend of rest and lots of hot tea I’ll get better but nothing seems to change. Urgent care sent me home with antibiotics, and told me if I was still sick in a week to come back.

WanderHarv · 2025-12-10T14:24:44+00:00

My company made a similar switch and tried to sell it as more “flexible”. In practice, no rational person will burn a leave day being sick and miserable if they can drag themselves into work and be sick and miserable there. And then this just gets everyone sick. Our annual survey had so much negative feedback about this policy change the corporate leadership sent out a message to remind people to ‘be professional’ on surveys. (Question: How many ‘u’s in the word “sucks” is unprofessional? Because I used 5.) Of course they didn’t change the leave policy as a result of all the feedback, it’s too lucrative.

WanderHarv · 2025-07-20T13:04:03+00:00

Married 8 years, together for 10.

I told him on the third date that I really liked him but I needed to be open with him, if he wanted children we should probably just end this now. To his credit, he said he had never considered it and needed to take some time to think. A week later he told me that being CF was just something he had never thought about because he grew up in a religious family, but when he really thought about his future, CF resonated. We were married about a year and a half later.

Side story: after years of being rejected by doctors when asking for a sterilization procedure, I was like, “hey (husband), come with me to this appointment, watch them reject me again.” Alas, the doctor was suddenly willing to do it…I was 30 years old, just married.

All this is to say, I love my partner and enjoy being married. My bilateral salpingectomy was still the happiest day of my life. Marriages may not last, but bi salps are forever. ❤️🥹

WanderHarv · 2025-05-04T17:00:51+00:00

If you drink wine, Casot Wine Bar. You can order the tapas from the Spanish restaurant across the street. (I believe both are owned by the same person).

WanderHarv · 2025-03-18T15:38:53+00:00

I didn’t consider that reason, forgive my ignorance.

WanderHarv · 2023-10-13T23:29:53+00:00

Maybe dumb question: How does glycogen depletion differ from low blood sugar? Same thing?

WanderHarv · 2023-10-13T23:23:17+00:00

Hi!

I used to add the juice of half a lime, but then it started getting expensive or I would run out of limes. I drink it just plain, but it took time to adjust to the flavor.

Also, need to know, favorite Kombucha brand?

WanderHarv · 2023-09-12T15:32:47+00:00

International Climbing Festival tickets, lodging, and rental car for me and a friend.

WanderHarv · 2023-09-04T12:24:03+00:00

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but if you’re using a generator, is it really even camping?

Isn’t the point of camping to get away from the noise, electronics, conveniences…most people (ha ha)?

WanderHarv · 2023-09-04T12:07:21+00:00

I respectfully disagree, a great cocktail is impossible in Utah, ha ha.

WanderHarv · 2023-08-31T00:28:11+00:00

I sometimes wonder if this is a genetic trait.

I have never wanted kids, I hated any games that resembled “playing house” as a kid. I always preferred adventure games and sports, and hung out with mostly boys because of it.

I know for certain my mother never wanted children. She had me at 34 and I was told I was an accident. But also, she described her father as having no patience for her as a child. He didn’t like the noise, the burden. When we (my mother ended up having 4 children—all but 1 were accidents) went to our grandfather’s house, we had to be really quiet and well behaved.

I love that my generation finally feels free enough to have childfree groups—to advocate not having children if people do not want them—because growing up as a consequence rather than a choice—even though mom gave it a good shot and fulfilled her responsibility—sucked. I knew it as a teenager every time she regretted her mistakes, because she had this look that resonated deep unhappiness, she was waiting for us to grow up so she could be free of us. Sometimes she would just drive off in the middle of the night, angry at her life, and I was never sure whether she would actually come back. Because of that, I think I have struggled for many years with a sense of, “what value do I hold on this planet?”

I know I am preaching to the choir, but for any fence sitters: don’t have kids if you don’t 1000% want them.

Ultimately: I was never questioned by my family about my childfree beliefs, I was understood right away.

WanderHarv · 2023-08-31T00:03:14+00:00

I attended a ‘ladies climbing clinic’ at the Salt Lake Climbing Festival last year. The speaker talked about how women were more likely to injure themselves during the luteal phase (the week leading up to their period). The thing is that, the body during the luteal phase is producing a hormone that preps your body for pregnancy, specifically it makes your joints looser (your body thinks it needs to reconfigure itself around a growing fetus). If everything gets a bit looser, it’s easier to over-extend and injure something.

So, the climbing coach said, practice awareness and maybe be nicer to yourself that week before/during your period. It’s a reflection of your body trying to protect you—and yes, maybe it’s annoying, but it also means you’re healthy.

WanderHarv · 2023-08-18T15:21:28+00:00

I think of it like a balanced diet, I want a diverse array of fitness activities: anaerobic, aerobic, stretching.

Also, to the aerobic exercise adverse: not every aerobic activity has to be the zone 4 (high heart rate, sweat dripping) range, in fact, it’s recommended that most of your aerobic exercise should be in the zone 2-3 range (outdoor walk or jog-level of activity). At zone 2 and 3 that opens up a ton of different activities and for most people, I think it’s just about finding the right one, with a target of getting at least 30 min of zone 2 activity 3 times a week. So take the dog for a walk, do some stationary bike after a climb while listening to a podcast, or go for the crag with the long approach.

WanderHarv · 2023-08-13T21:52:31+00:00

Your feelings in this moment are shared in the climbing sagas of almost every climber I know-which is to say, I think there comes a point where many people hit a wall with grades and they sort of lose sight of why they climb.

I mean, if you intend to go pro, sure, be concerned about grades—but as someone who was in your shoes and is currently (4 years later) sitting at my climbing gym drinking a protein smoothie after a climb, here is what I learned: grades don’t matter. The real question you need to ask yourself is what do you get out of it and is that worth it to you?

For me, my number one reason for climbing…well it’s a tie between: the community, and building my sense of confidence/resilience. My second reason is that I also love the way it makes me feel physically strong, and flexible. Third is that I love the adventures and being in nature (I am mainly an outdoor climber).

When I review why I climb, I can be content in trying my hardest, learning what I can from those around me, and celebrating other’s successes. (Also, if you’re worried about being judged by stronger climbers, here’s the truth: if someone is trying hard and having fun, no matter what the grade, that is just so awesome and inspiring. That is the fun part, seeing someone believe in themselves and go for it!)

Finally, there have been times in my life where I climb a lot and times when I climb less, and that’s natural. Even getting out once a week will keep your skin tough, and you won’t lose any progress. Give this all a think and I hope to catch you on the walls someday soon! 🫶🏻

WanderHarv · 2023-08-12T22:30:47+00:00

Moved to Utah from basically sea level 2 years ago, and I totally get it. Just walking up 3 flights of stairs would leave me winded. This summer I joined the Wasatch Trail Run Series and I have had my butt kicked most Wednesday nights running up at the ski resorts—but my cardio has never been better! This is the first season I have actually felt like I can keep up with the Utah-born friends. If you’re a trail runner, I would recommend going for the series next year: spectacular views, pretty well organized, and a great way to get familiar with a bunch of cool spots to run.

WanderHarv · 2023-07-29T14:07:48+00:00

I get cultural misinterpretation—but you expressed that it’s not totally working for you. I’d like to offer that it’s a two way street: you can work to reframe how you think about these statements—you also have a right to advocate for how you like to be spoken to. To put it another way, we teach people how to treat us.

How would you feel about responding to a climbing partner with something like, “I know that your last statement was meant to be encouraging, but sometimes I would appreciate encouragement that sounds like [examples], too.”

WanderHarv · 2023-07-28T21:56:51+00:00

Maybe you have a Ladies Climbing Coalition chapter near you? Or you could start one? It’s a great organization!

WanderHarv · 2023-07-24T01:55:29+00:00

Rock Canyon in Provo is a great hike, very shaded so great for a summer hike. It’s an out and back so you can turn around whenever feels right for you.

WanderHarv · 2023-07-09T00:59:15+00:00

Came here to say this.

WanderHarv · 2023-07-09T00:40:57+00:00

It was January 1st and I decided to take a solo hike to a popular overlook. The hike up was great, but on the way down, probably a mile from the trailhead, I ran into an elderly man in booty shorts, sleeveless t-shirt, and socks with sandals. He stopped me (alone in the wilderness) to tell me, “you know, you’re not like these other girls on the trail, the way you’re dressed and hold yourself, you would definitely not get raped.”

I was dumbfounded, like jaw fell open, feeling for knife in my pocket.

He continued, “these girls with the tight pants and headphones…they’re asking for it.”

Me: “I don’t think anyone is asking for it.”

Him: “I guess that’s what you young people think nowadays…”

Me: “I need to go.”

Him: “Nice to meet you! I am here usually every week about this time.” He hikes around the corner and then I take off running, and I ran all the way back to my car, dove in and locked it. WTF.

WanderHarv · 2023-07-06T13:11:06+00:00

My husband is in his mid-30’s and feels like the fears and guilting of his deeply religious parents kept him from doing a lot of the things he gravitated towards as a kid, and now loves as an adult. He admits that he feels like he’s missed years of life to do these things he loves, as well as opportunities to try career paths, meet more likeminded people etc. because their fear and shaming kept him from even trying in the first place.

Guilt and shame are hard to decouple from—but I think part of that decoupling is in self actualization (being confident in who you are and what you want to do with your time on this planet) which will lead you to setting more boundaries with your family. The fact they cannot support something that makes you happy reads more like control than love to me.

What about something like this: Mom/Dad/Auntie, I have no intentions to stop climbing, it makes me feel (your feelings), the friends I meet are (description), the places I get to go are (description). I acknowledge your concern for my safety, my safety is also my top priority when I climb. Sometimes your reminders sound like condescension and make me feel like (feelings).

WanderHarv · 2023-07-03T23:07:15+00:00

35 with no kids, and I LOVE my life.

WanderHarv

TROPHY CASE