CURRENT MISSION

50 Years of Living; Part II has begun.

ABOUT ME

I left Minnesota as a young adult to find out what was beyond the corn fields. I was a bit nomadic back then and moved 10 times in 3 years. When I landed in Colorado, I met a man and settled into 25 years of raising children. Even then, I traveled as much as I could either with or without my kids/spouse, and when I could not travel, I immersed myself in books and movies about other places and people and cultures. I am now divorced and my children are grown, so my time is my own. I plan to travel even more and am looking forward to meeting many of you.

PHILOSOPHY

I am very curious and find that reading, travel, and meeting people who share their stories is a great way to satisfy my curiosity.
I am continually amazed at the hidden stories that people have. I feel enriched each time someone shares a bit of themselves with me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My goal is to connect with people....learn more about your lives, your experiences, what wisdom you have gained. I love the cultural exchange that occurs because of our choosing to welcome or be welcomed.

Update: In the past ten years as a member of couchsurfing.org, I've discovered that there are different styles of CS guests and hosts. I stay in a lot of hotels, but when I can, I like to get the local flavor and connection which can be achieved through CS. Conversely, I feel that we can offer the local view to travelers as hosts. While there are many hosts of every variety, I am not the one to contact for a month of free rent or the place to get your band back together. Safe travels, everyone!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Growing. Each experience is unique and wonderful. I treasure each of the meetings I've had.

Interests

Road cycling, art, live theatre, books, motorcycling, scuba diving, cooking, travel. I love conversations that stretch my thinking.

• arts
• books
• cooking
• running
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• cycling
• business

Music, Movies, and Books

Variety. The stack of books is constantly rotating. I love to read by author, and Graham Greene has been my favorite this year. Independent, classic, and foreign films tend to capture my attention and that may be because they are not so predictable because there is not the Hollywood background music to direct my emotions during every scene.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hard to quantify. An amazing thing can be the view of Mount Meeker from my home on a day after a new fallen snow when the wind has not yet blown the snow off the peak. Or amazing is dragging my hand along an ancient wall in Cairo as I walk its length, knowing that others have done the same for thousands of years. Amazing is being humbled by people's generosity at times when I have nothing to offer but a sincere thank you. Amazing is being 50 years old and coming to a new realization about myself or my relationships. I guess "amazing" is all relative.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am an artist, and as my profession, it is an area where I can share. I run my own business designing and providing signage for corporate customers, so conversations about business relations can be helpful both ways. And I love to cook...but not every day! I'll cook you one of my favorite meals and, if you like, you can cook one of your favorites. I am beginning to learn the Italian language, so if you speak Italian, I would love to get some corrections on my pronunciation/grammar while learning a few new words and phrases.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a seasoned traveler who packs light, pays attention to the rhythm of the household, and picks up after myself. I will attempt to be on time, stay in touch regarding any travel delays, and offer to help with meal prep and clean up if I'm offered to share a meal with you. Mostly, I am grateful to you for opening your home to me and other travelers.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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