When I travel I like to get out and experience the way of life for the locals--I avoid tourist traps and seek out quaint dives where the locals hang out to get away from tourists. I enjoy the pomp and circumstance of a black tie ball and the camaraderie of a backyard open fire-pit oyster roast. I relax best after a day of adrenaline pumping physically strenuous sporting activity--if it involves air, water, acceleration, and/or g-forces then I'm probably going to enjoy it.
I enjoy art museums, live theatre, orchestras, performing arts, live music, and mom & pop restaurants that use family recipes and put love and joy into every dish. I enjoy jogs in parks, around new cities, or on the beach — a healthy way to preview an area before a day of exploration.
I love food! When available I prefer naturally wholesome foods such as organic, farm raised, drug free, or wild caught. I generally avoid processed, preserved, and plastic wrapped stuff that looks like food unless I'm desperate lol.
I'm a fan of artisanal cheese, unknown yet high quality wines that can stand up to the most revered labels, gourmet chocolate and coffee, homemade ice cream, grandma's southern recipes, and savory sauces.
I prefer the classics when it comes to music, art, rock, and single malt scotch.
I like to mix the classical with modern technology when it comes to architecture and fashion design.
I completely abandon the classics when it comes to technology where I like to learn about what is in development before it is even available.
I don't watch much tv.
Honestly I work too much and I'm trying to figure out how to change that. Although I'm type A, when I'm not at work I'm laid back and get along with almost anybody pretty easily — except die hard jerks, pompous asses, and narcissistic alcoholics lol.
I like making mundane things special -- for example I prefer to drink fresh squeezed orange juice from a champagne glass.
Thus I am rarely board--with my sense of adventure I generally find something entertaining or exciting no matter when or where it is.
I've always followed my own path, but I think life's journey is more fun when experiences are shared with friends -- I've never met a kind hearted human that I considered a stranger.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm an extravert, enjoy meeting new people, making new friends, and learning more about the world around me. Hotels get boring so I want find a more interesting path to travel.

Interests

I'm passionate about keeping fit.

I love the cold weather during the winter and the hot weather during the summer and embrace the days with record breaking highs and lows as rich life experiences.
I used to extreme ski - jump off cliffs etc. - but now I simply enjoy having fun on the slopes and don't risk my life or limbs any more.
I'm a licensed skydiver, expert scuba diver (dive master), learned how to kite board last year, still want to learn how to surf.
I love hiking, camping, (but have not been in many year) and anything outdoors.
I miss taking motorcycle trips - got to get another motorcycle soon
I consider audio books reading - thus I read a lot also -- mostly the audio edition of the Economist and history lectures
When I was in college I could not decide what I liked more - history or economics - so I earned a double -- majoring in both
Then I went back a few years ago and earned an MBA at NYU.
Along with traveling more I want to start learning more languages. English is my native language and I speak practical Spanish, but I want to also learn German, French, Mandarin, Russian, and Portuguese.
Life is an adventure!

• arts
• humanities
• books
• performing arts
• architecture
• design
• fashion
• dining
• recipes
• chocolate
• cheese
• coffee
• drinking
• technology
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• scuba diving
• bungee jumping
• skydiving
• skiing
• economics
• history
• languages
• beaches
• parks

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bungee jumped from a hot air balloon from 3000ft up with 200ft of bungee cord.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have always maintained rental properties and thus have become pretty handy and can fix most anything having to do with home repairs and some mechanical devices whether plumbing, heating, electric, etc.
I am also good at finance and can read a financial statement and have given financial advice -- whether it is an issue of debt or asset allocation I will be glad to discuss these issues.
In general I am good at solving complex problems and discerning the true nature of a problem and devising a creative solution to deal with the issue.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bermuda, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S., Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States