CURRENT MISSION

To cultivate an ongoing & inspiring sense of awe of the world & living, by being true to myself, and by living an authentic life.

My partner & I are currently living in Nashville. Our home is just large enough to accommodate the two of us, so hosting has not been an option lately. I work in one of my favorite bookstores, and enjoy working there as much as I do shopping there. My partner & I are very active in meditation communities, always deepening our experience of life, and always wanting to connect with others who also are.

ABOUT ME

I adore traveling, but I travel for more than pleasure or leisure. I am a wandering philosopher. I love meeting people, learning about anything, and examining coincidences from multiple angles.
I love movies. I love books. I love music.
I am a student of Buddhism (several schools, though most deeply engaged with the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh).

PHILOSOPHY

No one will ever be flawless, but we are already perfect. The earnest pursuit for improvement is the definition of greatness.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While traveling, I prefer staying with CS hosts over hotels or hostels. This is not just because it is usually free, but because a host is usually looking for a greater experience than simple occupancy. For anything I do in life, I want an engaging experience (not necessarily intense, but at least communicative or mindful).
I host for the same reason.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It's tough to find an open couch when visiting San Francisco, but otherwise my experiences have all been positive. I have hosted, surfed, met for drinks, and made good friends.

Interests

Philosophy, conversation, books, movies, music

• books
• cooking
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• philosophy

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: I like good movies, I like bad movies, and I dislike mediocre movies. I prefer an emotional reaction to a happy ending. I'm a fan of Scarecrow Videos in Seattle, and of their podcast--very knowledgeable, rarely snobby.

Music: I've recently realized that my favorite music these days comes from lesser-known artists. I only think this reflects the fact that I do not listen to the radio. I'll probably recommend to you any of the following: Jenny Owen Youngs, Murder By Death, Umbrella Tree, Saul Williams, Jason Webley, Levi Weaver

Books: I read about 65% non-fiction, 35% fiction. I am a big fan of Daniel Quinn and Malcolm Gladwell (really, if you're into TED talks at all, you could guess the kinds of books I read). As far as fiction, I adore satire, originality, and wordplay. Audrey Niffenegger is high on my list.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen the Dead Sea Scrolls. I've attended a lecture by Stephen Hawking. I introduced Tom Wopat to Wallace & Gromit. I watched Fight Club with Chuck Palahniuk. I attended Burning Man in 2007. I lived with & studied under Pema Chödrön at Gampo Abbey.

Teach, Learn, Share

One thing that I love about traveling and hosting is swapping books, music, etc. I am happy to cook, help with any chores, and so on. I love a good conversation, but am also happy to peacefully abide on my own. I usually travel without a lot of money, but am happy to be generous in whatever ways I can find.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States