CURRENT MISSION

To build on where I have been in life and to seek out increased happiness and fulfillment in the places where life will lead me.

ABOUT ME

Hello!!! Let us see what I can say about myself?? Well, I have managed to make it through the marriage and parenting thing for about 25-30 years now. I am re-enjoying bachelorhood after a couple of marriages that did not work out. Raised and supported three kids through all of this. Thankfully, the kids seemed to have turned out fairly well-adjusted considering. Also took care of my father for a while before he passed on.

I live in beautiful Brevard County, Florida on the Atlantic coast about half-way between Vero Beach and Daytona Beach. This area is also known as the Space Coast because of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center. I moved down here nearly 20 years ago from the Windy City (Chicago) and have never regretted it. I lead a fairly laid back lifestyle with a few friends and neighbors. I try and stay in touch with my kids and extended family in and around Melbourne as well as in the Chicago area and in Italy where my family and I are originally from. I enjoy the beaches in Brevard as well as our parks, restaurants and night clubs. The Melbourne area is a pleasant place to set down some roots and stay a while. It is also a great place to vacation as we are close to the beaches and the Orlando area without all the hustle and bustle.

PHILOSOPHY

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded."
Bessie Anderson Stanley

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Did quite a bit of Couch Surfing on a trip out West this past June. Also recently started doing some hosting here at my home in Florida. The experience so far has been very positive and I have had great times with all my CS hosts and surfers. I haven't attended any of the local CS functions but plan to some time in the near future.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have mostly surfed around the U.S. and have also hosted here at my home in Melbourne.

Interests

I enjoy traveling which is why I have signed up to be a couch surfer. Seems like an excellent way to meet new people and enjoy traveling more. I also enjoy hanging out at the beach, cooking, hiking, camping, working out in the yard, anything Italian (language, music, wine, cheese, art, architecture, etc.), photography, watching sports, jamming on my fender stratocaster with other musicians, cruising, and carousing with friends at a local bar.

• arts
• culture
• architecture
• photography
• beauty
• cooking
• wine
• cheese
• working out
• clubbing
• gardening
• traveling
• watching sports
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• sports
• beaches
• parks
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

As far as movies I like the following: ( anything directed by Martin Scorsese, Joel and Ethan Coen, Alfred Hitchcock). My favorite sci-fi film is "Blade Runner". As for book authors I am partial to F.S. Fitzgerald, J. Steinbeck, E. Hemingway and C. Dickens. I enjoy a variety of musical genres, (classical guitar- A. Barrios, H. Villalobos, F. Moreno-Torroba), (Jazz - Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny), (Rock- Led Zepplin, Yes, Jeff Beck, Allman Brothers, Montrose, Journey, L. Skynyrd, Tom Petty), (Blues- Freddie King, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Mississippi John Hurt), (Soul - James Brown, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Lou Rawls), (Folk- Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro), (Bluegrass- Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Most recently I spent about three weeks on the road this summer traveling through the interior of the US starting from my home in Florida. I logged nearly 8,500 miles in my 2004 Nissan Pathfinder during the trip. I traveled as far southwest as Monument Valley in Utah/Arizona and as far north as Glacier National Park in Montana. Discovered Santa Fe, New Mexico for the first time. Got to see and drive through Memphis, TN. Oklahoma City, OK, Utah, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Iowa as well as see spectacular national parks such as Arches, Canyonlands, Yellowstone and the Tetons, and Glacier National Park. GNP was by far the most inspiring natural place I have visited during my travels. I also saw Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota for the first time. I managed to enjoy a College World Series game in downtown Omaha, Nebraska as well as jammed with an orchestral performing cellist in Knoxville, Tennessee. The CS network provided me with many of my overnight stays as well as introduced me to some truly wonderful people who hosted me during my trip. I am truly grateful to couchsurfing.org and all the kind folks who hosted me for a most memorable travel experience this year.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a multitude of interests and experiences that I can probably share knowledge of with others. Some of these might include: (guitar playing, Italian language and culture, investment planning, programming, parenting, getting through a divorce, planning for retirement, cooking eggplant, caring for an aging parent).

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Belize, Canada, Dominica, France, Greece, Grenada, Italy, Mexico, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

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