Hi there! My husband, John, and I recently quit our corporate jobs to live more authentically. We spend most of our time building a tiny cabin on a little sliver of forest land in West Virginia. When not playing in the woods, we are spending time with our chosen family in Baltimore, traveling around the US in our trusty van, Caballo, or backpacking through a new and interesting country. We believe deeply in the power of human connection, and are developing a living arts project to explore this idea. We call the project Camp Gemstone, and we call ourselves Ruby (Amanda) and Amethyst (John). Our close friends call us Ruby and Amethyst exclusively. Camp Gemstone's primary platform is regional Burning Man events, which play a major role in our lives.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

We want to meet new and interesting people as we pass through cities and towns across America, and also find safe spaces to park our van.

Interests

• philosophy
• art
• mindfulness
• ideas
• community
• empathy

Music, Movies, and Books

We read. A lot. Always looking to better ourselves and to learn more about the world.
Currently:
Ruby: Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins
Amethyst: The Silk Roads

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Laid in bed in Kathmandu for three days after being adventurous and trying a non-touristy restaurant...followed by a call from the health department when we got back, wanting to know everywhere we had eaten for a week.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Kindness, conversation, service, and perhaps some free legal advice

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Barbados, Canada, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Slovakia, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States