CURRENT MISSION

Share and Enjoy!

ABOUT ME

I used to say that I loved plants and people, but now it's gotten more complicated. The front edge of this complication is ecological design, which involves design, ecology, and community.

I enjoy trying new ways of looking at life. I think joy is increased by being open and getting out into the world. I love traveling, and prefer to either couch-surf, hostel, or camp wherever I go.

I live with my true love and various cats. The old man and I go sailing most weekends, so that's become our main social interaction, which may or may not be healthy, depending on how you feel about drinking too much and always smelling of sunscreen. This year I've been a bit lax in my relaxation, so I need to work on that.

I really started traveling in grad school in my 30s, and try to take advantage of every travel opportunity. I'm happy where I am, but I think I would say that just about anyplace I lived. Most of my recent travel and activities have centered on work, which is good, but I am recently daydreaming of a yoga/meditation retreat to someplace that gives massages. I don't even do yoga, but it sounds right on right now.

PHILOSOPHY

Follow your bliss (Joseph Campbell) and let the mystery be (Iris Dement). Also, 'Just Say Yes' whenever in doubt.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have surfed and hosted, once, but am working on doing my second CS trip. I love meeting people and hearing their stories, and think people involved in couchsurfing have something fundamental in common. The opportunity to meet new people and try new things is the point of going someplace new.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Basically, if I didn't couch surf, I would be hoping to encounter by chance the people I meet when I couch surf.

Interests

Design
Plants
Taking my time
Dark beer, but now also wine.

I love listening to story-tellers. My dad and grandfather both were great story tellers. My sisters and I are evidently the skipped generation- I tell the worst jokes- but I do love to listen. Sometimes my stories are brilliant, and sometimes they are not.

• cats
• design
• wine
• beer
• yoga
• meditation
• drinking
• traveling
• socializing
• camping
• sailing
• ecology
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite authors of all time: M. Ondaatje, Tom Robbins, Frank Herbert, Alice Walker, Joseph Cambell.

Current favorite Music: Andrew Bird, Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse
Lifetime favorites: Tom Waits, Cake, Aretha Franklin, Seu George, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I broke into the Temple Apollo in Turkey with the rest of my class. We had tickets, but ran late and the gate was closed by the time we arrived. It was twilight, and my professor led us up and over the fence. The scale of this temple is huge! We jumped from one fallen column piece to the next, each one about 5 foot tall, to make our way to the temple. Our professor told stories of hanging out there with his friends when he was growing up, before there was a fence. When we got back to the tour bus, a Turkish speaking tourist barged onto the bus and proceeded to shout at my professor for breaking into the monument - it looked like they were going to come to blows. But, our professor defended us and scared the guy away. It was spectacular!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can design your landscape, or teach you how to recognize some plants. I am learning calculus, which is no fun at all. I am a good editor if you need something read over. I get wrapped up in whatever subject is currently on my mind, and tend to forget everything else. However, I stay mostly informed about world events, and always like learning or remembering something new.

Countries I’ve Visited

Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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