NOTE: PLEASE DON'T CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE COMING TO THIS AREA TO FIND WORK IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY. I CAN'T HELP YOU.

SI BUSCAS TRABAJO EN LA INDUSTRIA DE CANNABIS, POR FA, NO ME SOLICITA. ¡NO PUEDO AYUDARTE!

MY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED AND I AM CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO HOST EXCEPT IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS .

THAT SAID, IF YOU WANT TO MEET UP, GET IN TOUCH AND PERHAPS WE CAN ARRANGE THAT.

HABLO ESPAÑOL MAS O MENOS. SIEMPRE LO ESTOY APRENDIENDO. NO HABLO CON TODA SOLTURA, PERO PUEDO COMUNICARME.

CURRENT MISSION

Fill the space between birth and death

ABOUT ME

Let's first address the issue of my age. Seems I'm the oldest couch surfer that my cursory perusal of the site reveals. But hey, I've been couch surfing all my life. Why stop now? I've traveled widely from the 60's and 70's when I was a hippie vagabond, to the present. Though I've upgraded my travel style somewhat over the years, it still resembles my formative years in many ways. I seek out the unique, the backwaters, the remote corners, the untrammeled paths, the stunning examples of our planet's diverse beauty. This quest has taken me to six continents (I lack Antarctica) and over 60 countries. I am an avid backpacker (the wilderness as well as traveling kind), and have hiked/camped in many locales worldwide. I rigorously maintain my self-concept as a Traveler, not a Tourist. I still hitch hike on occasion when the situation warrants.

When not traveling (which I try to do as much as I can) I call home the redwood region of Northern California. I am recently and happily single. I enjoy traveling alone (though I don't always) because the quality of the experience is so different; the way I engage a place and its people is much more direct alone than with a companion.

I have variously made my living as (in no particular order): an environmental professional (largely in forest conservation), a homesteader, a writer, photographer, travel agent, non-profit consultant and trainer, carpenter, grant writer, and cannabis farmer. Needless to say, I haven't had any clear career trajectory, but have managed to figure out how to survive and prosper doing interesting things.

In general I consider myself to be a thoughtful, self-reflective, intellectually engaged, good planetary citizen if that's not too boastful.

PHILOSOPHY

Will wonders never cease!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've not only participated, but reveled in the couchsurfing concept, both as a traveler and a host. In the past ten years I've surfed in Chile, Spain, Mexico, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and the US. The people I've met and the friends that I've made via this network are incredible. It's been absolutely fabulous to come into a strange city, find my way to an address or meeting spot, and be welcomed without hesitation or reservation. Included in the bargain is help getting to know the new place and often an instant circle of friends as well. Not a bad deal at all.

And the few times that I've been able to share my home, the reverse experience has occurred. I've been more than happy to share my wealth of knowledge about my fascinating neck of the woods.

I guess I'm answering the next question as well.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been couch surfing (before it had a name) since 1966 when I hitchhiked through Mexico. I once landed on the couch of the Lt. Governor of the state of Oaxaca on that trip. In 1971 and again in 1976 I surfed my way through Western South America. On the 1971 trip, I stayed in only one hotel in 4 1/2 months, often sitting in a small town plaza doing string figures, chatting with passersby until someone invited me home. Often there wasn't so much as a couch and I would spread my mat out on a dirt floor. Even at my advanced age, I'm still willing to do that if the situation arises.

Interests

Life in all its diverse forms. I'm fascinated by natural processes, both big picture and the minute details. Photographing natural wonders and people is a dominant passion. In the last 15 years I've become engrossed in 20th century history, trying to figure out how these social/political/cultural processes have shaped my own experience. I follow current affairs with keen interest. I am often engaged in some political issue, or cause, often local, sometimes global. I love to garden, have grown my own food for 45 years. Art (broadly defined) stimulates me in all the ways that it should both provoking and pleasing. I do sloppy yoga and have an intermittently consistent meditation practice. And lastly, I enjoy cooking, have adapted many of the cuisines from the places I've traveled into my repertoire.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• photography
• beauty
• dining
• cooking
• gardening
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Quirky, arty, foreign, imaginative, different.

Music: Very eclectic, though in my sunset years, classical music has been prominent. But I also like R&R, Alternative, World, Experimental (electronic and otherwise).

Books: Besides 20th century history, I enjoy intelligent novels. I also read a lot of periodicals.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Maintaining a continual sense of amazement is something I've tried to cultivate.

Picking one amazing thing is difficult. But I offer the following. I was instrumental in manifesting the first private forest reserve in Chile. There are now over 200 such reserves. That may be the most significant thing I've done for the planet in my lifetime.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love this concept! I guess I consider myself a counter-culture elder. I've lived, reflected and written much on our generational experience. I also have several specific skill sets, ranging from conflict management to photography to building with wood.

What do I need to learn? More humility perhaps (as I peruse all the puffery I've employed in this profile). Seriously, though, I learn something from most human encounters and many non-human ones as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I often cook a meal. I present image shows from various parts of the world. I am genuinely interested in the substance of your lives.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Chile, Mexico, United States

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