CURRENT MISSION

Settle back into wonderful San Francisco.

ABOUT ME

Over a year ago I sold every I owned and started traveling out of a backpack and I haven't looked back since. It's a big world out there and I'm making it a priority to meet as many people as I can while experiencing as many wonders of the world as possible. Along the way I'm writing more books and finally giving myself time to write for pure pleasure, from the heart. Loving every minute of it.

I enjoy volunteering, whether helping animals, children or adults. I feel very fortunate in life and try to treat each day like a gift and in turn want to give that positive energy back into the world. I like to find quirky ways to help, the unconventional little things that get overlooked, but when I can make them happen, can really make a big impact.

I grew up in middle America, which was a great place to be a kid and learn the values that propel me to this day. Life was simple and we had time and space for big ideas and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. That simple upbringing guides my perspective to never sweat the small stuff, take the time to find out what makes each one of us special, celebrate our brief time on the planet and help those who need to be helped. Life really isn't that complicated - it's to be enjoyed and doing whats what we can create more happiness and well-being as we go along.

PHILOSOPHY

The world is huge and I'm very small, but that's the challenge to see and do and experience as much as possible with the time we have here. It's not the stuff we buy and accumulate, it's the experiences and the positive connections we make as we go along.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Over the past few months I've been meeting a lot of CSers at group meetings and a few awesome individuals for drinks or dinner, but now I want to do a lot more surfing and let my hosts guide more of my experience. It's great to meet people for a few hours, but it's nothing like staying with someone and having the time to really get to know each other as people - sharing past experiences and living new ones.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I recently spent a three day weekend in an aboriginal village in Eastern Taiwan with a wonderful host and teacher who further ignited my fire for CS. We spent the weekend participating and volunteering in a wonderful aboriginal festival that brought together many tribes for archery and dancing and ceremony. It was truly one of the best experiences I've had couch surfing and I'm looking forward to many more.

Interests

Awesomeness, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, swimming, whitewater rafting, camping, reading, writing, meeting cool people, rocking out, chilling, yoga, libations, dancing till dawn, long train tides, beach bumming,

• animals
• writing
• books
• festivals
• dancing
• yoga
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• whitewater rafting
• surfing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• archery
• teaching
• tourism
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Waldon, Wind in the Willows, Siddartha, Your World is About to Get A Whole Lot Smaller, To Hellholes and Back, Never Say Goodbye, Don Quixote, Paradise Lost, Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels, Vagabonding

Thievery Corporation, Zero 7, Bedouin Soundclash, Massive Attack, anything chill, lounge and reggae, Daft Punk, Rough Guides, Smashing Pumpkins, Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, Air, NiN, Teaching Company, James Brown, Blues, Soul, Bluegrass, Everything else

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Burning Man is always amazing, every time I go. I look forward to going when I'm 80.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a big believer in helping people who want to take the leap from a 9-5 job into the world of perceptual travel. I meet a lot of people interested in how I did it and I love to brainstorm how other people can make it happen. If someone wants to go backpacking for a month or a year, but isn't sure how to get there, let's figure it out!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Philippines, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, United States

•