I recently retired from Southwest Airlines after 26 years as an aircraft maintenance inspector. Over the last twenty or so years, I also moonlighted on the weekends as mobile disc jockey, performing at many wedding receptions as well as corporate and private parties. The pandemic has put my DJ adventures on the back burner for now, but I hope to further explore that avenue when things normalize. Actually, right now, for me, it just feels good to laze around with nothing in particular to do. It is the first time in my life that I have no one to answer to and I do pinch myself every day because it doesn't seem real. I have fantastic travel benefits from the airline that will take me just about anywhere in the world I might wish to visit. As the planet reopens its borders, I want to get around and see as much as I can. That being said, my favorite place on Earth is home. It is not opulent, but I have a lot of great things to share here with like minded travelers.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

As a retiree, I am learning how to live on a fixed income, and part of that is figuring out ways to live out my retirement dreams without breaking the bank. I feel that I have a lot to share with people out there who wish to travel in a more prudent and sensible way while still being able to experience all of the great things that my locale has to offer.
In my travels so far, I have sometimes been frustrated by the fact that by the time I learn my way around someplace, its time to get back on the plane and come home. By being a member of the couchsurfing community, I hope to get real travel experiences with the help of whoever is hosting me. I feel that in my neck of the woods, I will be able to provide the same for those who I am hosting. As a certifiable foodie, I have much to share and look forward to experiencing the cuisines of wherever I travel to with real recommendations from my hosts. It just seems like a no brainer to me. As a widower, I do a lot of solo travel, but occasionally bring a companion when things work out that way. I have learned to enjoy travel either way.

兴趣

• photography
• spas
• dining
• sightseeing
• relaxation
• e-cycling

音乐、电影和书籍

I am sorry to say that I have never been an avid reader. I have always been one to do something instead of reading about it. The physical act of reading seriously makes me sleepy. I hated school because of that. One thing though, that really trips my trigger, is music. There are very few forms of music that I will not listen to. I find it to be one of lifes true universal languages. I also love cooking and dining for the same reasons. These are things that make strangers form bonds and to me, are the essence of life. Traveling exposes people to these wonderful pastimes in a truly indelible way. I like everything from the Allman Brothers to Chopin to Norah Jones. Josh Groban to Black Sabbath to Roberta Flack. I play guitar and am able to butcher just about anything I set my mind to. I'm not very good, but it is still fun. I am entertaining the idea of joining a local drum circle with my djembe just for a laugh. I've watched Shawshank Redemption and Forest Gump oodles of time...still like 'em.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

On one day in 1980, I was both struck by lightning and also photographed lightning, all while witnessing the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. It was most definitely the most memorable day ever for me. I have some great pictures of the event and was also published ten years later when I wrote an article about it. It was my only attempt at sending something that I had written out there for public consumption. Not bad for a person who dropped out of high school at fifteen. I am proud of that little article. I was never meant for school. I obtained my Airframe and Powerplant license at age 30 by challenging the written tests and then passing an oral and practical exam. In the hangar I worked at in Atlanta, I was the only aircraft technician out of roughly 200 that obtained my certification that way... no tech school or military training, I just wanted it. When I was 3 or 4, the eye of a hurricane passed over our house. Since then I've been in more than a dozen more hurricanes, but never in the eye of another one. I've also survived two tornados, a desert sandstorm and in 1994 I was in the Continental Airlines hangar at LAX when the Northridge earthquake struck. Things went from "kind of cool and fun" to downright scary as hell in about 30 seconds flat that night. We were 20 something miles from the epicenter. I was also 20 something miles from Mt. St. Helens when it blew, and also about the same distance from the launch pad when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1984. I call this collection of disasters my "Gumplife". Not a single bit of this is bullshit, but more than one person I have encountered in my life and times has made that accusation. Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. In fact, I just could be a good one to be around if you find yourself 20 something miles from impending doom, because I have managed to squeak through unscathed up to now. I've never met a president, but I did get some handshake time with Al Gore before he had his presidency stolen from him by some miscreants in Florida. Still...Gumplife rules!

教，学，和分享

In between airline layoffs in the early nineties, I attended culinary school for a change of scenery. Although I have never really had to cook for a living, I am pretty skilled in the kitchen. I love to share my knowledge and cook things for people. It is one of the great joys in my life. At the same time, I also love to learn new tricks, so interaction with others is always welcome.

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

Quality time and culinary skills. Interest in photography, music, good spirits and such.

我游览过的国家

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, England, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Switzerland

我居住过的国家

Bahamas, United States