CURRENT MISSION

As a host: to create a welcoming space where anyone can find good food and better conversation. As a traveler: I'm a pilgrim on a mission to explore the places that make this planet precious.

ABOUT ME

If I lived in a hunter-gatherer society, I'd be a shaman. If I lived during the Trojan War, I'd be best friends with Odysseus. I'd be going native with the Scythians, pillaging Rome alongside the Goths, or sailing all over the world with the Vikings. I could be an assassin prowling the streets of a Renaissance city or a nature-loving Medieval-phile literature-writing professor at a Victorian university. I'd be Lewis and Tolkien's drinking buddy or the director of historical action movies that make people think about complicated stuff.

As it is, I try to make everyone I run into see the unexpected possibilities in their lives.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe that a strong connection to nature and grounding in great stories, myth, and tradition are the two most important pillars for a fulfilling life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My home plays host one or two evenings a week to an informal community that is a cross between a board game night and a philosophy symposium. It's popular with college students and recent graduates - an environment where good times are open to all, cold Guinness may always be found in the fridge, and all you have to do is like cats and talking about deep stuff. Couchsurfers will find a warm welcome.

Other times, I have some flexibility (weekends especially) to be your guide to the Valley. Many of the Phoenix area's best hikes and museums are only a short hop on the freeway away.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I just joined, but look forward to hosting interesting people and later on getting to know good hosts in other places.

Interests

I try to go somewhere I haven't been each year and pick up a new hobby whenever I can. Most recently I've backpacked Ireland and Scotland, and I'm learning the craft of ceramics. I read a lot and guests are guaranteed to be able to find an interesting book on my shelves. I'm also an avid hiker and have, in the past four months, scaled Ireland's Carrauntoohil, Scotland's Ben Nevis, Arizona's Humphrey's Peak and anti-climbed the Grand Canyon rim-to-river&back in a day.

• cats
• writing
• books
• literature
• folklore
• environment
• dining
• running
• drinking
• trivia
• movies
• pottery
• survival
• hiking
• hunting
• sailing
• teaching
• geography
• history
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite authors other than C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: Ken Follett, Kate Mosse, William Dietrich

Favorite movies not involving the Lord of the Rings: King Kong (the "new" one), Noah, Braveheart

TV: Game of Thrones, Spartacus

Music: Epica, Within Temptation, Omnia, similar groups

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Spending part of a day on Skellig Michael has got to be the top of the list.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm always on the lookout for new skills to acquire. What I know best: hiking and wilderness survival, history and geography trivia.

Countries I’ve Visited

Ireland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Greece, Hungary