*** My husband and I are expecting a baby this Winter, so guest calls are offs for the time being ***

CURRENT MISSION

to appreciate this moment

ABOUT ME

Utilitarian, individualistic, unequivocally myself. People say I smile excessively and talk too fast when I get excited.

PHILOSOPHY

What I value most are respect, humility, and a general appreciation for life (life!).

For every thing there is a purpose, for every person a reason to be, and from every person something to learn; remember that you brought yourself into this existence. Make good with it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

While I used to live in my car, I now have a couch! All are welcome!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've surfed many. I've hosted many. I've also traveled with many CSers that I've met in group forums or in hostels. It makes me happy knowing that there are so many enthusiastic people out there.

Interests

cycling (the best way to see a country), hitchhiking, backpacking, crosscountry skiing, listening to people, sewing, knitting, compost and other homesteading-like activities, contemporary and experimental music, just intonation, volkswagon vanagons, getting lost in atlases, high altitude, tree climbing, fermentation, coffee (and way too much of it), backbends, natural naked hotsprings, forest pathology and mushrooms in general, sunflowers, synchronicity, visual illusions, fire dancing, drawing, photography (my website!)... general consciousness

• photography
• dancing
• coffee
• gardening
• traveling
• knitting
• drawing
• homesteading
• magic
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• skiing
• rock climbing
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Biographies, Howard Zinn and other writers of progressive history, the poetry of Whitman and Tagore, documentaries, and the X-files. The books that best describe me and my philosophy include 'Vagabonding in America' by Ed Buryn, 'Desert Solitaire' by Edward Abbey, 'Deep Economy' by Bill McKibben, and 'Wild Fermentation' by Sandor Elix Katz. I like most music, though I'm keen for blues and bluegrass, Lou Harrison, Tinariwen, and my circa 1960-1970's record collection at the moment. Tune into Radiolab and This American Life.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've... cycled Seattle, WA to San Louis Obsipo, CA and from the Slabs to La Paz Baja, Mexico (1700 some-odd miles)... gone snow blind... had my aura described to me many times by strangers... lived in Big Sur... crushed four of my vertebrae... traversed the Sierra Mountains by hitching and hiking... survived and thrived with a weird neurological disease... been in love... been fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to travel all over the West Coast and beyond in my VW bus, on my bike, with my thumb, or just by putting one foot in front of the other... and, wow, I now get to learn for a living!

Teach, Learn, Share

Various modern-homesteading activities, as we have many, many projects going down. If you want to learn how to slaughter a chicken, ferment and enjoy vegetables, garden, or make soap, for e.g., please consider this a place to stay!

If we head to the hills I will display my enthusiasm for forest pathogens, and maybe even find some edible mushrooms. I can teach you how to tie a truckers hitch.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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