CURRENT MISSION

My home is your gateway to the mountains, to the high desert desert, and to a comfortable room!

ABOUT ME

I have a small home right in town and I want to help enrich your traveling experience in New Mexico.
I am relatively quiet at home, but am gone much of the work week. I consider myself neither extremely outgoing nor shy, but somewhere in the middle. Cat lover. Dog lover.

PHILOSOPHY

It's not about starting at Point A and getting to Point B, but it's about exploring the world between Point A to Point B. I believe that if we can do something to help others, we are helping to make the world a better place. I believe that having happiness and passion in one's life is more important than having material possessions and wealth. I try to live sustainably and mindfully in our world, and support progressive social causes. I also try to be mindful of other people, and understand that I have had a lot of privilege in my life as an educated, middle-class, white American.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I want to offer my couch and also have the experience of sharing other people's couches!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I hosted a lovely young couple in August. That's all of my experience on couchsurfing.

Interests

I like doing outdoorsy things like hiking, camping, taking walks, identifying birds, visiting off-the-beaten-path places. I also like reading, knitting, crossword puzzles, yard sales, yoga, running, board games, hooping (yes, as in hula) and being active. ( I recently had a skiing accident that resulted in knee surgery, so I'm limited in how active I can be--but my doc just gave me the okay to hike!)
I have 2 cats and love to travel with my dog.
I don't own a TV, but occasionally watch shows on my computer. I have a garden in a community plot and am so excited about growing organic stuff I can share with friends. All I seem to grow in my yard at home are weeds!

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• birds
• culture
• causes
• education
• yoga
• running
• gardening
• movies
• board games
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• eating out
• puzzles
• knitting
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• skiing
• communications
• teaching
• rivers
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite Movies: Mostly independent and foreign--Amelie, Ghost World, The Secret Lives of Others, Run Lola Run (anything with Franka Potente), upbeat documentaries.
Books: The Poisonwood Bible, Middlesex, Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and anything by Jhumpa Lahiri, Michael Chabon. Hoping to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks soon.
Music: my favorite musician is John Hiatt. I prefer modern bluegrass, folk rock, world beat, 70s rock, and some trip hop. I'll take a live night at the opera over a band at a local bar.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had the privilege of teaching college students in Nowy Sacz, Poland for a school year. Recently, I've tried doing some kayaking down New Mexico and Colorado rivers. I also climbed to Wheeler Peak in NM. last year I took a 5 day rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. I'd love to see a mama farm animal giving birth some day.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught, trained others & wrote curriculum mat'ls re: media literacy education for my profession (then I was laid off due to loss of grant funding), and since it involves much about movies, TV, and US culture, I enjoy sharing with others my critical analysis of media. I've also taught middle & high school, and college in Poland. I also enjoy the great outdoors, and know some great hiking, camping, and day trip places to explore--both close to and farther away from Albuquerque.
I am just learning how to knit and wish I knew more! I also know a few card games but would like to learn more. I think I'm the only person from Indiana who doesn't know how to play euchre!
I don't own a TV; however, I do watch shows on my laptop every so often.
I have some extra hoops in my backyard; if you want to try hula hooping, I'll teach you and you can see how fun it is!

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