CURRENT MISSION

Decide what to do, where to go and how to live. Or just keep riding a bike to new places.

ABOUT ME

Frugal-minimal. I've only ever worked full-time / salary for 4 years (formulating rice pudding and custard recipes for supermarkets). I left to travel in 2010 and returned to choose time/freedom over money/security. So I now have a simple lifestyle, which depended on the well-being of my Grandad for 5-years, who I lived with and cared for until he passed. Since 2013, I've supported dyslexic university students.
Cycling, yoga, football, films (Plymouth Art Centre) and friends enhance my spare time.

PHILOSOPHY

"Nature does not dictate what we should accept or how we should live our lives. Well into my procreating years, I am so far voluntarily childless, having squandered my biological resources reading and writing, doing research, helping friends and students, and jogging in circles ignoring the solemn imperative to spread my genes. By Darwinian standards, I am a horrible mistake: a pathetic loser. But I am happy to be that way and if my genes don't like it, they can go jump in the lake."

I used to share a profile with my brother. He hasn't been employed, bought a CD, pair of trainers or pint of beer since he was 20 (now 38). He's never owned a car - has cycled 100+ miles just to deliver a library book. You won't ever find him in a piece of clothing that wasn't found, gifted or inherited. I even had to buy him a mobile phone.
James constantly exercises - mentally and physically - adapting as he goes through enhancing knowledge of the natural world. In his words: While one may be content just to exist, enlightenment (the meaning of existence) may come from understanding more of nature's laws by endeavouring to travel further into the unknown.
I respect his attributes greatly, but it requires a supremely strict nature harshly dependent on time. I am much too easy-going; drink-party-dance-socialize, ponder, own the odd luxury item, "waste" time....but still predominantly within the inherent low-usage nature, which has been fundamental to afford/allow us our long-term liberty.

When you become fed up philosophizing too much:

"You get born, you keep your head down, and then you die. If you're lucky". (Eddie; from Bottom - my fav 90s TV comedy).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As CSing now has over 1-million members, I favour people travelling by bike.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

First surfing experience: 7 CSers all meeting for the first time in an outback farm outside Perth, Australia.. Cooking, roaming, chatting, drinking, working, relaxing - everyone reached a natural high, enjoying each and everyone's company - a perfect introduction to the CSing philosophy.

Interests

Laughing & dancing.

Cycling NZ:
https://www.couchsurfing.com/photos/10662610

Cycling USA:
https://www.couchsurfing.com/photos/10662593

Music, Movies, and Books

Overall: The Count of Monte Cristo is certainly number 1 of anything I've read/heard/saw. Read by Rick Kistner [free on ItunesU],

Comedy: Stewart Lee, Armando Iannucci, Chris Morris. Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development. Trailer Park Boys :)

Nirvana / Nevermind initiated my music taste, Bottom, Alan Partridge & The Simpsons revealed humour, educated and entertained the most throughout my teens.
TV: The Wire, Mad Men, and Deadwood are my favourite TV shows.

Film: Harold and Maude, Taxi Driver and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray. "Paul Thomas Anderson", Darren Aronofsky, Kar Wai Wong, Cohen bros, Lynch, Miyazaki.
WISH I saw "Drive" and "Moon" at the cinema. Though I have seen Clint Mansell live.

I'll never forget how much I enjoyed "Buena Vista Social Club"; a doc-film put on by my Great Uncle Giles in his brilliantly languid style. Spontaneous viewing, but long-lasting in the mind.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Firing a 4.0mm pistol across the Rio Grande into Mexico whilst shouting "Viva el Mexico"; as instructed by a heavily intoxicated border patrol employee I just met from the small town of Langtry, Texas.

Teach, Learn, Share

Experiencing nature is better with less.

I've freestyle/wild-camped during bike/backpacking trips of Australia, New Zealand and USA and have many tips/ideas for ultralight/cheap travelling.

Without CS, I sleep in woods, parks, schools, public toilets, roadsides, beaches etc. — I can appreciate the value of a roof, a shower, and bed. Occasionally I'd strike gold in a friendly local. CS takes the luck out of such treasure hunting.

What I Can Share with Hosts

"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."
(Mark Twain)

"Why, in truth, sir, a man is but an ugly caterpillar for him who studies him through a microscope. But you asked, I think, whether I have nothing else to do. Now, really, let me ask, sir, have you? Do you really believe you have anything to do? Or, to speak in plain terms, do you think that what you do deserves being called anything?"
"When you have once devoted your life, other men are no longer your equals; and whosoever has taken this resolution feels his strength and resources doubled," (The Count of Monte Cristo)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States

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