Hello. I'm not the most tech-savvy person around, but I can read instructions and usually get things to work. I have a Google Pixel 7a and I have installed GrapheneOS on it with no issues, thanks to an excellent and easy to follow web-install.
I'm not interested in GrapheneOS quite so much about the privacy and security, which I am thankful for, but mostly because I despise how Google keeps changing the basics of their Android OS. I'm used to how the basic apps are, and then there's an update and they've changed a bunch of things and added stuff I don't want/need/use. I also noticed constant changes to their background app usage, no matter how many times I turned them off.
I really don't use my phone like a lot of people nowadays do, I use it mostly as a phone and camera for taking photos and videos of my two crazy cats. :-P I do have a few apps that I use, for example: Duo Mobile (for authentication for a couple of things), Everwash (an app for my subscription to my local car wash), Fitbit, Libby (for Public Library audio books), and some apps for my EV (2023 Chevy Bolt) like MyChevrolet, EVGO, and PlugShare.
I don't do/use any social media apps, and I always used the stock Android apps for phone, messages, camera, etc. I was using the Edge browser and Outlook app for email, but no longer want to use either of those. I do have my photos and videos automatically backed up to both my G-drive and OneDrive, which I'm okay with, but don't really need both. I have a OneDrive sync client on my Linux PC so I can have copies of what's on my OneDrive on my PC.
On my computer I am running Linux Mint 22.2 (Cinnamon) and use Evolution for email, calendar, contacts, etc.
What I'd really like is for my Pixel 7a with GrapheneOS to be able to sync my email, calendar, contacts with my PC, even if I have to find a different program for use on my Linux computer. I'd be more than happy with the default apps in GrapheneOS to use if I'm somehow able to sync with my Linux computer program.
I've watched a LOT of videos about separate user profiles for sandboxing apps, and also about the "private space" alternative. To be honest, I don't know if me being a pretty simple phone user, if I couldn't just set up everything in the main user profile, or use the private space, or need to have a separate user profile(s) as I'm not all that concerned about things talking to each other.
I would be grateful for any easy to figure out and do recommendations for a simple user like myself. Think of me as your goofy old relative that only uses their phone as a phone, but also a little text messaging, and checking some emails, taking photos/videos, not really using their phone for anything too privacy risky (e.g. - bank apps), but wanting to use GrapheneOS because they DESPISE the stock Google Android OS.
Thank you in advance for your time and recommendations, and also for dumbing everything down enough so your goofy old non-tech-savvy relative can understand. :-)