My epic trip of 2018:
For 45 days during the summer, I jumped in my car alone and explored cities up the west coast all the way to Canada. I camped, mountain biked, hiked, National Park-ed, sightsaw, visited friends, but most importantly and above all else, I met a lot of you.

I've come to realize through my travels that it's the connections with others that truly matter to me. I love other people, I love different perspectives and introspective conversations. It was exciting to meet and stay with such wonderful people, experiencing them, and their cities.

Santa Barbara ~ San Luis Obispo ~ Monterey ~ Santa Cruz ~ Berkeley~San Francisco ~ Elk ~ Grant's Pass ~ Portland ~ Astoria ~ Olympia ~ Seattle ~ Vancouver

(Also, Burning Man Adventures Year #2)

My epic trip of 2017:
Black Rock City. Burning Man. A renewed faith in humanity.

My epic trip of 2016:
Road trip. Los Angeles ~ San Francisco ~ Salt Lake City ~ Saratoga ~ Denver ~ Omaha ~ Chicago ~ Pittsburgh ~ New York City

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I'm a web designer who owns a home in North Orange County in Southern California. I have no pets, currently no girlfriend and lives with two roommates.

I also have a website: http://daedesign.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/daedesign/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/dean.alexander.1721

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love to travel, but more so I love the notion of traveling in regards to getting to know people. Shared experiences with strangers who have the potential to change my life, my perspective and become life-long friends. I'd much rather have great conversation with locals, than see the nearest tourist attraction. Oh and please start your request with, "The answer is 42" so I know you've spent the time to read this. Thanks!

Interests

Everything! Except sports. Well, more specifically, watching sports on the TV. I guess I would just rather go outside and have fun burning some of my own calories. Live sport events are somewhat more tolerable, but still super low on my amazing list of super fun stuff to do with the rest of my life. Except hockey. I'm always up to grab my scarf and head down to see a live ice hockey game.

I also have to mention a fantastic volunteer organization I'm a part of, Comfort Zone Camp is a bereavement camp that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. The free camps include confidence building programs and age-based support groups that break the emotional isolation grief often brings. Comfort Zone Camps are offered to children 7-17, and are held year-round across the United States.

• animals
• arts
• books
• design
• graphic design
• sketching
• dancing
• cooking
• exercise
• clubbing
• politics
• tv
• traveling
• watching sports
• painting
• drawing
• hiking
• camping
• sports
• hockey
• volunteering
• nature
• film
• web design

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Each year I challenge myself with a single year-long project in order to pretentiously brag about for years after.

In 2008, I took a self-portrait every single day.
In 2009, I did not cut my hair.
In 2010, I did not have a sip of alcohol.
In 2011, I volunteered a new place each month.
In 2012, I created something every week.
In 2013, I attempted to exercise every day.
In 2014, I created and hosted a book club.
In 2015, I met up with friends old and new on one-on-one dates.
In 2016, I traveled across the country.
In 2017, I answered a question every day.
In 2018, I attempted to draw something everyday.
In 2019, I'm tracking 40+ daily habits.
In 2020, I attempted to revisit my previous decade of projects each month.
In 2021, I continued to revisit my previous decade of projects each month.
In 2022, I am cooking a new recipe every week.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico, Spain