Well, I'm 21 years old and live in the little community of Lompoc, which is about an hour from both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo on the beautiful California coast. It's a small community, with plenty of little hidden gems (like a "wine ghetto" where we have something like a dozen tasting rooms for local wines, all of which are great). I graduated with a B.A. in Music from Westmont College in 2014, and since then have been working at a engineering location in Santa Barbara. It's a long and random story, but it's a fun one I can share if you come and stay!

I spend a lot of my time relaxing with my neighbors when I'm not at work or travelling. We have an active cul-de-sac with lots of bbq time and music, and plenty of dogs running around and playing in the yards -- for non-dog-lovers or those who are allergic to dogs, I'm sorry but my house may not be the best to stay in! I have a year old German Shepherd who is my one and only housemate, but she is extremely friendly and goes pretty much wherever I do.

All in all, it's a quiet neighborhood, with plenty to see if you want to drive just a little ways in any direction; from little Danish villages (like Solvang) to Santa Barbara, to great hiking and horseback riding places up in San Luis Obispo!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've heard plenty of people say that Couchsurfing is a fantastic way to meet new people, both as a host and while on travel. I enjoy getting out and seeing new places, and I especially want to spend more time travelling the United States. I figured Couchsurfing was going to be a great way to work towards that goal, while also getting the experience of hosting people in my own home and sharing the fun with people who may never come to our little town!

Interests

My interests are far and wide: music (both playing with friends and seeing performances), running, hiking, horseback riding, reading, cooking. I'm a big fan of having projects. For instance, I have a motorcycle in my garage that I bought for a pretty cheap price, and I'm fixing it up to resell. In the process, I'm learning a ton about the way they work. That's the kind of stuff I love to do when I'm not playing with my dog or relaxing with my neighbors.

• dogs
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• bbq
• wine tasting
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• equestrian
• hiking
• engineering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a big country fan, but I also really like classical music. I studied it in college for my degree and really loved it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had the opportunity to spend 4 months in Germany during college, and that easily became one of my favorite experiences of the whole time I was away at school. I lived in Heidelberg, and absolutely loved the experience, even if it was winter when I got there!

Teach, Learn, Share

Coming to Lompoc usually isn't the vacation spot of a lot of people. But I can guarantee that coming here is one of the most relaxing things if you know where to get plugged in. The wine tasting rooms downtown (the "wine ghetto") are becoming pretty well-known, and the surrounding county is full of great spots to explore. Santa Barbara is a hotspot of tourists, and has that feeling of being a california-stereotype for year-round sun and beach weather. My family also will occasionally get together for nights of music and food, where we will all play music in my father's home studio while enjoying good food. It's safe to say that if anyone visited on a weekend, it would probably happen!

What I Can Share with Hosts

At my particular house, anyone who stays here is bound to be welcomed by the whole community, and you will likely end up playing with dogs in the yard, while enjoying a good old-fashioned barbeque and front-porch fire pit well into the evenings.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Peru, Slovakia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States