An eclectic mix of an old soul and a crazy kid at heart, I am very connected to nature and the earth around us. Equally comfortable engrossed in a work of art or literature, climbing at 14, 000 feet high in the mountain wilderness, navigating the back roads of rural Mexico or chilling to the bass of a house music concert.

Life is for living and I want to experience all the world has to offer, learning, meeting new friends and immersing myself in the extraordinary places at the far corners of the globe.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Having lived in Southern California my whole life, I am enjoying spreading my wings and visiting other parts of the world to explore and have adventures in.

In addition to trying the different foods, hearing new music and learning words in other languages, my favorite thing about traveling is seeing the different way things are done in other locales. There is more than one way to make things work and finding out about how other cultures approach the complexities of life has greatly enriched my own.

I love the idea of making new friends in far-off places, not only to stay with and visit the local sights, but to keep in touch with afterwards and grow a whole network of great connections all around the world.

Interests

Hiking is one of my passions and a big motivator for travel - I want to explore and climb in many of the great mountains of the world. My highest so far is Cerro Toco in far northern Chile, higher than the base camp of Mt. Everest at over 18,350 feet.

Kayaking, rock climbing, snow stuff, tennis, pool, anything outdoors. A big animal and bird guy, seeing them in their natural habitats are amazing. I love to do photography too, another reason for travel adventures.

I play the piano and am learning the acoustic guitar. Also trade the global financial markets, so I definitely have an interconnected, worldwide mindset.

• animals
• arts
• literature
• photography
• concerts
• partying
• clubbing
• trivia
• traveling
• billiards
• painting
• music
• guitar
• piano
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• rock climbing
• tennis
• languages
• road trips
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

World music is my favorite, listening to the rhythms and lyrics of different cultures. Enjoy classical, Bach and anything baroque is my favorite. In the mainstream music scene, I get into everything from hip-hop to Lady Gaga to Green Day. Very little I don't like, but I also appreciate silence or the music of nature, such as a mockingbird or a symphony of crickets at night.

Independent and foreign films are my favorite, Nymphomaniac was a standout, what a tour-de-force!

1984 by Orwell, amazing dark book, so much of what he wrote 65 years ago has come to pass today. Big book fan here, I like everything from Stephen King to classic literature to non-fiction. Too many great things to read, too little time lol

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Only one? lol

Came within 25 feet of an adult black bear sitting on the narrow, steep trail in front of me in the forest, blocking my way while I was coming down from a hike at night, alone. The two eyes reflecting in my headlamp alerted me to his presence.
Did the standard "bear-in-the-wild" procedure of appearing large and noisy, standing my ground. The bear paused for 30 seconds, then scampered straight up the hill.
Still, it took me a good 15 minutes to pass by the spot where he was sitting, I didn't know how far it had gone. You can better believe I was looking over my shoulder for the rest of the hike down lol

Teach, Learn, Share

Even if I can't host at the moment, love to hang out with travelers passing through SoCal, I can show you some of the fun out-of-the-way places in LA. Anyone planning road trips around the area, maybe I can join on you some of your journey.

Have a ton of trivia in my head, so never a dull moment lol At the same time, I'm not one of those types who will talk your ear off non-stop, silence and quiet enjoyment can be golden too.

Teach me and share about your homeland and I'll return the favor! :D

What I Can Share with Hosts

Genuine friendship, a willingness to help around the house and a true delight in learning about your local area, language and customs.

Since I'm a night owl by nature, love to stay up til the wee hours laughing or go to a local club party together. Exploring a museum, I can give you a lot of art insight, as that is my background. As I'm also an artist, I might even paint you a small painting to remember as a keepsake of my visit. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States