CURRENT MISSION

To welcome people to: the various parts of themselves, people with other people, and people with nature..

ABOUT ME

I moved from the US to Mexico in Oct. 2003, after visiting three times. The culture is more about family and community, unlike the US where shopping and working take up all one's energy. I am intrigued by the sacred sites in Mexico. I love fiestas and dancing, do a lot of reading and hiking, and play blues harmonica in a band.

Camp as a kid was my most formative life experience. I've provided these types of experiences for children. I was a green R&;D chemist and lab manager, and taught weaving and natural dyes, sacred geometry, and English as a second language.
In 2013, I published: "The Bumpy Road, A Memoir of Culture Clash." (check under my name in Amazon) Currently I am re-writing it.

My blog, "Letters from Mexico:" https://www.donkarp/letters

PHILOSOPHY

In this insane world, crazy is the new normal.

Simplicity:
My life is meant for living, not philosophizing.
So I roll along, and sing my song.

I used to be tired, but now I am retired.
For me, this is about letting go. Especially of internal and external "should's."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
I find it very valuable meeting CouchSurfers. It expands my worldview considerably.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I stayed on couches in Mexico: Zipolite, Oaxaca, for my first three days there in 2008, and again in Huatulco in 2009. In Nov. 2018, I Surfed in Guadalajara. These were incredible experiences! And I surfed on three couches in Tucson, AZ during Feb. 2010.

In 2020, I started a CS bilingual hiking group in my area.

Two of those couches in Tucson were homes of young people in the military. I was happily pleased to partake of their generosity and have many interesting conversations. As a former peace activist, I found these interactions very positive in a surprising way.

Interests

Environmental education for children.
Sacred Geometry, ancient sacred sites, earth energies.
Science and new technologies. Trees.
Playing blues harmonica, hiking and camping,
Lifestyles of simplicity.
Intentional communities.
Outdoor survival skills and organic gardening.
Reading and writing.
Journal writing.

• culture
• writing
• singing
• festivals
• dancing
• education
• gardening
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• survival
• music
• blues
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• chemistry
• teaching
• entrepreneurship
• science
• mental health
• peer support

Music, Movies, and Books

Book: A Beginners Guide to Creating the Universe-A voyage through the Numbers from One to Ten;
Movies: The Matrix series, Chicago, Avatar, Fifth Element, Cloud Atlas
Music: Blues music, jazz, old time and bluegrass.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I attended the original Woodstock Festival of Peace and Music in Upstate New York. I'm writing a book about the experience and about how I've lived the values since then.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught sacred geometry, English, weaving, and natural dyes, environmental education to children using sensory awareness and non-competitive games, and participated in leaderless men's groups--The New Warriors. I facilitate workshops on journal writing.

One of my favorite discussion questions is: "What is reality".

What I Can Share with Hosts

Sacred geometry. Memoir writing and self-publishing.
Life in Mexico. Travel. Trail hikes.
My scratch gluten free four grain pancake recipe.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Guatemala, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, United States