Not Accepting Guests
- Last login 3 days ago
Join Couchsurfing to see Alan’s full profile.
Overview
About Me
JUST TO BEGIN - I have now received both doses off the Covid Vaccine - Plus the Booster( Pfizer to be exact ) In this age of covid I am being very careful - please keep that in mind - MUCH of California remains shut down - so at the moment there is not much open - consider that as well as you plan your visit
P L E A S E - R E A D IF YOU ARE SENDING A SURF REQUEST :
I've been getting a lot of couch requests recently. Blank, boring, unpersonal requests - just doing a copy and paste ( even some using the wrong name ( not mine ) ) If you want to surf at my house, your request should include several reasons why you specifically want to stay at my house, proving that you have read in detail my profile and reviews. Otherwise, I'll simply click "no."
P L E A S E____A L S O____R E A D - I really like a surf request that is sent about 2 weeks prior to the requested stay...if you are gonna send a request only 3-4 or 1-2 days before you intended stay ( or as I have recently had - ON THE SAME DAY AS YOU ARE REQUESTING ) the great chance is that I will not be able to host you. I have many requests - several almost every day and to expect being able to stay is just not all that likely. PLEASE - plan a bit ahead. There MAY be some last minute requests that I DO accept - but they are rare and not at all likely. SORRY that is just how it seems to happen. I try my best to accept many people - but I can't accept other ones when people are already surfing here because they sent a request earlier than your last minute requests. Sadly , the the last 2 weeks, almost EVERY request I have received has been a last minute request for just a day or two away - AND as a result, I have had to decline almost every one of them - PLEASE send requests about 2 weeks before you want to stay - last minute requests and all too often not possible
If you REALLY want to surf with me - at least show some real interest in what Couchsurfing is all about - it is NOT just a way for you to travel cheap - it is a way to meet and connect with people - to get to know them - the create new and often lasting friendship - to share lives. If ALL you want is a free place to stay while you are in town - please don't even ask me - THAT is NOT what I want or give.
COUCHSURFING IS A LIFESTYLE EXCHANGE, NOT A FREE PLACE TO CRASH
EXCELLENT little article - please read https://foodfuntravel.com/docs/Five_Dollar_Traveller_Guide_to_CS.pdf?utm_source=CS&utm_medium=download&utm_term=Guide%2Bto%2Bcouch%2Bsurfing&utm_content=couchsurfing&utm_campaign=Guide%2Bto%2Bcouch%2Bontips101
CURRENT MISSION
to make this giant world smaller by bringing people together
ABOUT ME
retired guy who moved to San Diego from Wisconsin about 4 years ago and am loving the new location - the weather - the people - the city - EVERYTHING
I just moved to the Hillcrest part of San Diego
it is the place where all the action happens
great places to eat, visit clubs also is close to transport to the rest of San Diego
PHILOSOPHY
I am open
honest
caring
interested
eager to meet people
do not judge others and pretty much let things go
am a go with the flow kind of person
Why I’m on Couchsurfing
THIS IS A * M U S T * W A T C H * - one of my past surfers has made a film about the benefits and joys of Couchsurfing - Watch it ( I of course am biased because I AM included in the film ) Hope you get to watch it
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/couchconnections
HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
It has just been fun having a great variety of people come and stay at my place with me. People are great - each has a story and I love heading them and getting to know the people who have lived those things
Having surfers has been one of the BEST experiences in the past several years. To meet an ever changing group of people - from all walks of life, with different backgrounds, religions, interests, careers, ideas and philosophies of life has been endlessly interesting. To be able to make new friends from every part of the world and get to KNOW them has been not only educational but just plain good old F U N!
COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
I have now been honored to have had guests from South Korea - Mexico - Japan - Germany - France - Australia - England - Wales - Turkey - Italy - Belgium - Netherlands - Denmark - Norway - Sweden - China - New Zealand - Chile - Brazil - Colombia - India - Malaysia - Viet Nam - Latvia - Poland - Austria - Croatia - Singapore - Argentina - Ecuador - Reunion Island - South Africa - Egypt - Tunisia - Morocco - Portugal - Spain - Scotland - Ireland - Russia - Cyprus - Greece - Canada - United Arab Emirates - Lebanon - Paraguay - Lithuania - Macedonia - Switzerland - Magdalen Islands - Guadeloupe - Lithuania - Israel - Saudi Arabia - Hungary - Slovakia - Czech Republic - Bolivia - Costa Rico - the Cayman Islands - Viet Nam - and many from the US.
Each has been great and I have enjoyed the experience
B T W - GREAT read here - check it out - it may help you as you send out surf requests http://toolsoftravel.com/how-to-write-decent-couchsurfing-requests/
Interests
I love meeting people and talking about who and what they are - to just learn from them and share some of my life as well. I have retired after 40 years ad now want to travel and enjoy life and think we can help draw the world together a bit closer by sharing with others. I enjoy cooking, dining out, music, film, animal ( raised dogs for over 20 years ) I also life to explore and visit new places.
Have visited about 20 countries since I retired. I have gone on 9 cruises. Spent a month each in Asia and Europe. And plan to travel more - off to Europe again this year and most likely a trip to Ireland ( btw - include the word IRELAND in your request so I know that you at least looked at my profile a little and cared enough to read it )
Music, Movies, and Books
love all film - subscribe to netflix and a few other services to get even more
love the Beatles - always will MY generation - but also like Adele and Kelly
like some classical as well
One Amazing Thing I’ve Done
wow - where to begin
have been involved in dogs showing and raising for over 20 years and have been so fortunate to have achieved success
have recently become involved in the film industry and enjoying that
have traveled - the Baltic and AU & NZ The MED - Malta, Sicily, Naples Rome Florence and loved it totally
Also spend several weeks in Barcelona - one of my favorite cities in the world - a place where I could LIVE.
Just returned from a trip to Asia - Singapore Thailand VietNam Hong Kong and China - and a stop in London of the way back
Also did return visits with some great surfers of the past in Austria and Germany - was there 5 weeks and visited so many great former surfers - love this program
Teach, Learn, Share
I was involved in an advice chat room helping teens and others who have faced acceptance issues and other difficulties - it is a safe place to come out and know you are safe and cared for and accepted even if others done. There have been tragic stories of rejection and loss and this chat attempts to reach out to these your people and let them know someone honestly cares for them and accepts them as they are - always
What I Can Share with Hosts
An honest friendship
my time
a few food meals cooked from scratch
I LOVE to cook with and beside Couchsurfers - so if you enjoy that as well
LET ME KNOW and we will cook together
one of the best things to do
AND a chance to visit the #1 travel destination in the US ( as of March 2016 )
( http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Ranked-No-1-US-Travel-Destination-372038492.html )
Our airport is top ranked : https://www.baltimoresun.com/why-is-san-diego-airport-no-1-in-the-nation-hint-location-location-story.html
Here is a brief preview of this top-rated city : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KMZW_zwRfc
In addition - San Diego has what has now been declared having the 6th BEST beach in the entire US. ( https://apnews.com/article/best-beaches-florida-saint-george-island-doctor-a3e59bc3bf9429a349a7ec91e1703e80 )
AND - finally IF you are more daring and like to get that over-all tan - once again San Diego has the best nude beach in the entire US : https://www.orbitz.com/blog/2016/07/grin-and-bare-all-at-north-americas-9-best-nude-beaches-nsfw/?utm_source=Keywee&utm_medium=facebook&BRANDCID=ORBITZ-US.OLA.KEYWEE.PROSPECTING.GENERIC&kwp_0=250930
AND - not only one of the best in the US - ALSO one of the best in the entire world : https://www.gaycities.com/outthere/35567/photos-the-worlds-10-best-gay-nude-beaches/
BUT if you are more serious and want an education - again San Diego has one of the BEST Public Universities in, not just the US but in the world : http://timesofsandiego.com/education/2016/09/23/uc-san-diego-ranked-7th-best-public-college-in-the-world/ " UCSD was named the seventh best public university in the world, the 22nd best of all U.S. colleges and 41st overall internationally. "
San Diego has a lot to offer and I promise you will like it here
Countries I’ve Visited
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Viet Nam
Countries I’ve Lived In
United States