CURRENT MISSION

helping fellow travelers on their journey: a roof overhead, an ear to lend, maybe a music jam to be had, or just chill to a DVD (no commercial TV or wifi here)

ABOUT ME

Hmmm, this will necessarily be a work-in-progress, just like me. There's plenty of info already contained in the other fields, so for now I'll not add much more. Probably one thing to emphasize is that I've somewhat taken myself off the mainstream treadmill, both in abandoning a professional career track and making "neo-luddite" choices in my life - reducing my dependence on technology, the internet, social networking, smart phones, TV etc. I like it quiet, much of the time, to pick up on the softer voices of existence - or sometimes simply just to enjoy some peace with few distractions.

PHILOSOPHY

Slow the pace down, simplify, pay attention, deal with reality, value the lessons, acknowledge the pain, appreciate/enjoy the little as well as the big things, cry when I'm sad, smile and laugh (a lot) when I'm happy, take a hike and take in every step.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

In 1978 I did the summer backpack thing in Europe, and the times when I stayed in the homes of folks I just met (or friends of other travelers I met) were the most memorable and special. And for the most part, I just don't like the hotel or motel experience much, or the group hostels, preferring camping or home-stays when possible. I love meeting new people in new settings and finding out more about the places, cultures, politics, daily life, what's important, etc., in all the different places I've visited (or intend or hope to visit). I have a strong sense of the potential for global harmony, and figure the only future we have worth living is a strong communitarian version of it.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've always enjoyed getting the local perspective whenever I've traveled. College road trips frequently included stays on couches wherever we'd land for the night, culminating with the summer Eurail travels in 1978. Since then, I've rarely passed up a chance to stay with some local new friends met along the way, like the time I stopped by a ballfield in Taos, New Mexico and, because they needed an outfielder and I had my glove with me, was drafted for a softball game. More recently, travels in southern Peru in 2001 and Australia in 2007 included many CS experiences. Now that I've nestled in a nice comfy place, it's time I get on the hosting end of the deal. Of course, I plan to find CS network folks when I will be visiting or passing through the places where they live.

Interests

Right now, the priorities seem to be sustainable living (still lots to learn about that one), relocalization/strengthening local economies (we have a local currency network in Corvallis), nature explorations through hikes, camping, backpacking, hot springs, photography, playing old time fiddle music with the band, jamming with friends, more meditative piano playing at home, learning to grow food, exploring spirituality in readings and personal practice, relationships, working with the Enneagram (I'm a NINE), being there for my 94-year old mom in CA, enjoying home-cooked food, great (or at least good) wines, Oregon pinot noir in particular, lending a helping hand when I can, and getting amused, confused, irritated, disgusted and/or outraged by what's going on in the US (ok, and a lot of other places, too) politically, socially, individually, ecologically, economically, etc.

• photography
• dining
• politics
• technology
• tv
• music
• piano
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• scuba diving
• track and field
• softball
• cartography
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

I grew up in and have an indelible connection with the classic rock'n'roll era, but highest on my list of notable musicians now are Loreena McKennitt, Peter Mayer (guitarist-songwriter-friend from Minnesota), and Cat Stevens, esp Tea for the Tillerman, all of whom inspire my own renditions of their music. Playing old time fiddle tunes also provides hours of personal enjoyment. Hmmm, as for books, I always have four or five in progress, stacked on the nightstand. I'm currently hooked into books related to understanding the nature of spirit, consciousness, the meaning of it all, that sort of stuff. Also have to mention all of Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea novels (5 of them - if I could produce a movie, I'd do an epic treatment of The Other Wind), and Frank Herbert's first three Dune novels - all masterpieces of insights into individual and collective humanity. Love it! And I did get pretty hooked by Harry Potter, after initial resistance.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Fresh out of the University, I got a geophysics research position that took me down to Antarctica, where I lived for the four month austral summer at the South Pole Station. I have a slide show that features all 12 of the Adelie penguins I saw, in case anyone asks.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm really into psycho-spiritual development work, like the Enneagram, Spiral Dynamics, and various other maps and systems for trying to understand what goes on both inside people and out in the world. Beyond those "heady" approaches, I am also a diver into the depths of more esoteric or mystical possiblity, and seek to integrate the mind's understanding with the heart's connection and the body's sensations of it all.

At this point, heading into summer 2013, I especially wish to throw open the place for hosting travelers who seek a few days' respite from their travels; people who yearn for a time for retreat in order to take stock of where they are in their journey, and wish to share their thoughts with an open, nonjudgmental ear.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My enthusiasm for getting out and about in this lovely part of Oregon...

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Russian Federation, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Antarctica, United States

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