CURRENT MISSION - To explore life all over the world.

Also: Learn to sail.

Places are cool, but connecting with amazing people is what travel is all about for me.

Also... dancing. I love to dance.

I love my dog. His name is Batman, he's my service animal, and might be the perfect travel companion. He has hitchhiked with me for over 20,000 miles, but he's not currently traveling with me. :(

Some of my personal heroes include: Bruce Lee, Jim Henson, Oscar Wilde, Salvador Dali, Charlie Kaufman, Neil Gaiman, Tim Ferriss, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Alan Moore, and Darren Aronofsky.

I have two younger sisters and there are very few things I love as much as I love being an older brother.

Writing is my primary path to mastery. It is simultaneously something that comes to me with great ease and great difficulty. I have always been a story teller in one regard or another. As a child I was known for my tall-tales and extraordinary explanations for the situations that might have gotten me in trouble. I was often compared to Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes. As an adult I haven't changed much, but I've found an outlet for my imagination in writing fiction and nonfiction alike. If you'd like to know more about me and my writing you can visit my blog at http://alexcanby.com/

I've always loved graphic novels, comic books, anime, video games, and playing D&D.

MY PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

I met the Universe one day, and she was weird and beautiful, and she showed me that my weirdness was beautiful too.

Freedom is not a goal to be achieved, but a tool that is always at hand, and must be used to be enjoyed.

A person can be an artist at anything. I truly believe that creativity is humanity's most valuable commodity.

Making mistakes is as natural as breathing and just as important. We are all children learning to walk, and when we stumble it is only a sign that we're growing.

Engaging with the things you fear is the surest way to build strength of character. Do not avoid risky situations, learn to navigate them.

Continual life-long improvement is the name of the game. And you don't win by beating other people, you win by surpassing yourself.

Friendships are of the highest value. Time and energy spent in forming new ones or strengthening old ones, is always a wise investment.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host whenever possible.

When I'm traveling I encourage all of the amazing people I meet along the way to get involved in the CS community and try it out.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Best. Thing. Ever. Love to surf. Love to host. Always have great experiences. I have couch surfed all over the US and I'm very excited to begin doing it internationally.

Interests

Anything new or challenging, unusual bits of knowledge, dancing, people with rare or fascinating personality traits, things that are strange or fantastical, art, literature, movies, music, science, the absurd, creating the past, exploring the future, and learning to live in tug of war between the two.

• animals
• dogs
• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• dancing
• cooking
• fitness
• anime
• movies
• video games
• traveling
• juggling
• blogging
• drawing
• music
• hiking
• sailing
• martial arts
• teaching
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Calvin and Hobbes, Illusions, Memento, The Fifth Element, His Dark Materials, The Sandman Series, Queen, The Last Airbender, Johnathan Livingston Seagull, Ender's Game, Farside, Dune, Ghost in the Shell, Puscifer, H.P. Lovecraft, The Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, Shantaram, Led Zeppelin, 4 Hour Work Week, Pink Floyd, Queens of the Stoneage, Syntax, World War Z, Hellblazer, Silence of the Lambs, Blade Runner, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and countless others...

I am always looking for good recommendations.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In early 2010 I gave away everything I own except what I could carry on my back, and set out to hitch hike across the U.S. with my dog, and haven't looked back.

Teach, Learn, Share

If I am anything, I'm a teacher. Very few activities engage me as passionately as the possibility of helping someone live a fuller, freer life.

Things I love to share and explore with others:
Philosophy - always looking for new perspectives.
Martial Arts - 20+ years of martial arts training.
Fitness Training - group fitness trainer.
Writing - Me like words.
Art - Maybe I'll draw you something. :)
Financial Planning - Worked as a financial adviser for 2 years.
Misc - Juggling and a bunch of other random things. :)

What I want to learn: Games, social hacks, anything interesting or cool, anything that frightens me, more martial arts, and any kind of dancing, or cooking.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Any of the above.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Italy, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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