I have been traveling for 40 years now, all over the world, but I have yet to couch surf (though I've seen my share of couches). I am a writer and singer, and currently sort-of live in New York City, though I'm mostly traveling.
I am a conscious, leave-no-trace guest who is very tidy (watch out or I'll wash YOUR dishes) and am fun to have around, full of stories and songs and also a good listener (I'm a journalist by trade). I have friends all over the world, with whom I usually stay, but no harm in expanding the circle!
After a long career, I began extensive, nearly full-time traveling again in November 2014, and am still on the road! Now (April 2015) I'm in the hills outside of Florence, but I will soon be in other parts of Italy before returning to the US to visit family and attend my 16th consecutive Burning Man! If there are Burners out there, I'd love to hear from you.
Anyway...that's minimal me, there's a lot more to discover. www.davidwattsbarton.com has links to a lot of my stuff.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Obviously, couch surfing saves money, but my travels have taught me that it's who you're with when you're traveling that really matters, not where you are, or where you stay. I generally travel alone, so staying with people is a wonderful way to make new friends, which is pretty much my favorite thing to do in the world.

Interests

My interests are music (playing and listening), writing and reading, and yoga and walking. I love talking with new people (It's what I do for a living) and I love seeing places from the street level. I went to Florence and ended up taking more pictures of the graffiti than the Renaissance art!

• arts
• writing
• full moon party
• chocolate
• wine
• yoga
• walking
• partying
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• journalism
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Musically, I'm old school: The Beatles above all (I've interviewed Paul and Ringo – and Yoko), Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, U2, David Bowie...all the classic rockers. I also write and perform my own songs, with one album out and another to be recorded this summer. Links to my music (and other stuff) are on my website, davidwattsbarton.com.
Movies? Well, sure, but...not crucial. Books? I'm actually more focused on trying to write one (music history) than read them, but I'm currently reading Paul Johnson's The Birth of the Modern, a history of the 19th century. Love history.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

ONE???
Let's see: I've walked on fire, jumped out of airplanes, lived with three guys in the Moroccan Sahara for a month (I was on their couch before "surfing" was a "thing"), formed a band and performed my own songs, hosted a National Public Radio talk show, interviewed a TON of people, from two Beatles to Barbara Bush to an Indian fakir, traveled overland from Istanbul to Kathmandu back when you could, drunk Ayahuasca, done the full moon party in Koh Panghan, written and performed my own one man show about the 2008 housing collapse in California...I've been busy.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach some English for sure, and I'm trying to learn Italian while I'm here in spring 2015. I can teach other things, though they may not be teachable in a couple of days. But the best lessons are the ones you weren't expecting to learn, right?

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, smiles, wine, music, hikes, laughs, information...friendship. And chocolate!

Countries I’ve Visited

Afghanistan, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey