CURRENT MISSION

Two years ago while hiking in northern Wisconsin, I had the realization that at 70 y/o, I was on the edge of a vast plain, with the rough terrain behind me, and that somewhere over the horizon was the ocean, and I am returning to it. I am 76 now, working towards retiring. I hiked the Southwest Coastal Path 3 summers ago, plan to hike the Bruce Trail in Ontario this summer. I am still on the path, just finished a 10 day silent retreat.

ABOUT ME

I am an introvert working in an extrovert world. Which means that I enjoy being social and enjoy people, but need to take quite breaks into solitude. I do this by going outdoors as often as I can. I am also a curious person who seeks to understand many things about people, nature, spirituality, human change and the purpose of life. I currently volunteer with Hospice in a Vigil program. that I helped create, which means I sit with people in their final hours. I ask allot of questions, seek and sometime find an answer, but the more I learn and seem to know -- the more I realize I do not know.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I hiked the Southwest Coastal Path in England, 3 summers ago, met and stayed with a dozen individuals and families. Very good people who helped me along with my journey. I completed the Path after 2 1/2 months.

Interests

When I was 14 sitting in the back pew of my little church, I had the inspiration that "understanding" is the key to change, growth, peace, and maturity. I have spent my time since then doing my best to understand myself, the world around me, and the "bigger picture of life". Next to understanding, my efforts go into exploring the mind, the body, the spirit, and stretching myself into new, but in a safe way, situations, places, and activities. For example, when I was younger to trained in Karate, as this stage of my life, I have been learning Tai Chi for the past year. My next journey is to hike the South West Coastal Path in England ( I have hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2000, did my only marathon in 2005, and the Finger Lakes Trail, New York, USA in 2010. Dompeted the SWCP and I am planning to hike the Bruce Trail End to End this summer 2016 as my present to myself on my 76 birthday -- also working on the process of a leave of absence from counseling.

• marathon
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• canoeing
• law
• volunteering
• lakes

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Going for a solo canoe trip in the wilderness for 7 days, completing Outward Bound, hiking the AT and then working for the next 4 summers on the AT as a Ridgerunner, completing the FLTrail after a hip replacement, as a counselor of many years -- helping a percentage of my clients straighten out or improve their lives. Last summer I hiked the South West Coastal Path in England, stayed with some marvelous Couchsurfing hosts. I volunteered with the local Hospice Program for 6 years, helped start the Live Review program, just finished a 10 day silent retreat in Vipasanna meditiation
garthfisher-south-west-coastal-path-uk.com

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach the Yang Family short form of Tai Chi

What I Can Share with Hosts

Whatever we are inspired to share

Countries I’ve Visited

England, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States