Hello FediFriends 
It’s been a busy day already. I woke up tired and in some pain. Had a lot of chores to do this morning, but been trying my best to do self care and stay mindful of my own needs and limitations.
I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to the #UnitedSpayAlliance online conference this weekend, so I’ve been tuning into that on and off today. #Caturday #TNR
In the last few years I have not been able to do as much TNR (trap neuter release with community/stray cats) as I like to do (ever since I first got into it in 2020) due to having to focus more on just basic survival and moving from place to place. But I want to get back into TNR as soon as I am able. There are so many stray cats around that need spayed/neutered.
The conference is informative so far; lots of shares from experienced grassroots organizers in red states (US).
I’ve said this before, but I’m not sure a lot of the information shared in conferences like this would be super helpful for folks outside the US, as a lot of it really is navigating the US political system, and US culture around pets, breeding, shelters, vets, etc. Obviously the science of spay-neuter is transferrable tho. And I am sure there are community cats in almost every community across the world.
But in addition to wanting to get back into TNR locally, I also hope to have the time and energy next year to meet more of my neighbors and figure out what they need. I have realized my heart is really in mutual aid. I want to talk to my neighbors about forming a tenants union, since we rent, and the rent has kept going up every year.
I have spent many years labor organizing at my workplace, but have been unsuccessful, so I need to change my tactics there.
I have been thinking a lot about #mutualAid online, and how many people (seemingly) think that mutual aid online is not actually mutual aid when it’s among “strangers,” and people separated by a lot of physical distance. I disagree obviously, and I do want to share more of my thoughts on this, maybe not today tho.
I know that begging on the street is different from mutual aid. But that’s not to say that someone begging on the street is no less deserving of help than your next door neighbor.
Oh the other nice thing about the Spay/Neuter online conference, I can watch the recordings of the sessions I missed! Or rewatch the ones I tuned into on and off.
FYI I have several active ongoing #MutualAid/Fundraising campaigns that need boosting:
For me & my family: https://disabled.social/@bun/115357122133992061
For Dani: https://disabled.social/@bun/115357127607846257
For Tiamat: https://disabled.social/@bun/115357081338234922
Please boost! #TransCrowdfund #Disabled
Please donate if you are able (just pick one), but if you cannot donate obviously don’t feel bad. 
Bun (he/they)