CURRENT MISSION

I will be driving around the country for six months with two friends. In that time I look most forward to meeting some genuine, passionate and interesting people.

ABOUT ME

My name is Brad Collins and I'm 25. As you have probably already read, I live in Santa Rosa, CA. I have done 3 small sized road trips around the western part of the United States. This however, is "The Big One." My friends Isaac, Mike and myself are planning a six month road trip that will take us all around the United States. As a United States history major I want to see all the different cultural subsections of the U.S. to try and get a a better understanding for who we are as a people. I also just love to travel and see new things and be around new people.
Other than that, I like beer and storytelling. I like writing. In fact, while traveling I'm going to be looking at different grad schools, as I will be applying in the fall as a journalism major. I don't really have much else. My musical intersts range from blues, to rock, to hip-hop, to jazz, punk... you name it. I'm all over the place.

PHILOSOPHY

"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." -Charles Bukowski.

I think life is kind of like that. It can deal you some pretty gnarly shit. But, it's "how well you walk through the fire."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I participate in Couch Surfing by keeping your couch from getting lonely. Meanwhile, I will hopefully be making new friends and sharing stories throughout the United States. Oh yeah, and while I'm in graduate school I will have a free couch that will definitely be open for travelers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am still virginal with this whole couch surfing thing. I guess I'm feeling out the water.

Interests

I'm interested in meeting new people and overall, having new experiences. I'm a pretty open guy.

• writing
• beer
• traveling
• jazz
• blues
• surfing
• history
• journalism
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Tom Waits, Glassjaw, Creedence, The Black Keys, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine, Hendrix, Sage Francis, Saul Williams, Howlin' Wolf, Rage Against the Machine, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, Art Tatum...

Writers: Bukowski, Palahnuik??, J.D. Salinger, Capote, Daniel Boorstin, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Angela Davis...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I think people encounter amazing things every day. Today is the day after St. Patty's day. I'm amazed that my body is still functioning, I'm alive and I could find my car.

Teach, Learn, Share

Through living with a muscle disability I can teach perserverance. It seems like sometimes people give up on their hopes and dreams too quickly. Through having my disabiliy, it has made things that aren't difficult for many people, pretty hard. I hope I can teach the importance of hard work and persistence, as they have been the reasons why I am able to live my life as I am.