diff --git a/src/hooks/usePersonalContext.ts b/src/hooks/usePersonalContext.ts
index cf407e6..b11c875 100644
--- a/src/hooks/usePersonalContext.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/usePersonalContext.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,13 @@ function dedupeAddressable<T extends { pubkey: string; kind: number; tags: strin
 export function usePersonalContext() {
   const { nostr } = useNostr();
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
-  const { stash } = useStash();
+  // IMPORTANT: pass enabled:false. This hook is consumed by the Sasquatch guide,
+  // which is mounted in the GLOBAL Layout — so eagerly running useStash() here
+  // fired the encrypted-stash decrypt on EVERY page. With Amber that's a popup
+  // per navigation (the "Amber flashes when I move around" bug). We only read
+  // the stash from cache (populated when the user actually visits the Stash
+  // page); the AI's getMyStash tool degrades gracefully to whatever is cached.
+  const { stash } = useStash({ enabled: false });
 
   const pubkey = user?.pubkey;
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useStash.ts b/src/hooks/useStash.ts
index 6b92a90..e849348 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useStash.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useStash.ts
@@ -46,13 +46,24 @@ const STASH_D_TAG = 'skatespots-stash';
  * Hook to manage user's private gear stash
  * Uses NIP-44 encryption to store items privately
  */
-export function useStash() {
+/**
+ * @param options.enabled  When false, the stash is NOT fetched/decrypted. Used
+ *   by callers that mount this hook only for its data-access API (e.g. the
+ *   global Sasquatch assistant via usePersonalContext) but must NOT trigger a
+ *   decrypt — with Amber every decrypt is a popup, and this hook used to fire on
+ *   every page because Sasquatch is mounted in the app-wide Layout. Defaults to
+ *   true so the actual Stash page still loads normally. When disabled, `stash`
+ *   still resolves from any previously-cached decrypt (React Query cache).
+ */
+export function useStash(options?: { enabled?: boolean }) {
   const { nostr } = useNostr();
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const { logins } = useNostrLogin();
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const { mutateAsync: createEvent } = useNostrPublish();
 
+  const callerEnabled = options?.enabled ?? true;
+
   // Determine if nip44 is safely available WITHOUT touching any throwing getter.
   const hasNip44 = useMemo(() => checkNip44(user, logins), [user, logins]);
   // Amber prompts on the stash decrypt — keep it from re-running on window focus
@@ -97,7 +108,7 @@ export function useStash() {
         return { items: [], updatedAt: 0 };
       }
     },
-    enabled: !!user?.pubkey && hasNip44,
+    enabled: callerEnabled && !!user?.pubkey && hasNip44,
     staleTime: interactive ? Infinity : 60000,
     refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
   });