CURRENT MISSION

Exploring Europe with my partner Kathryn, lots of Swing-dancing festivals, hiking in nature and meeting lovely folks along the way

ABOUT ME

I like exploring the world and ideas through creativity and communicating with diverse groups of people. I am constantly seeking to expand my world view and learn more about the world and my place in it!

PHILOSOPHY

Slow living. We believe that life can be lived at a different pace. As part of our experiment we are seeking to live with both less (material possessions and comforts) and more (experiences and encounters with other souls). We believe in fair exchange and sharing, gratitude and co-operation and most importantly - open and honest communication!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We are just starting out really. We are currently traveling, dancing and working in Europe. We have hosted (other than CS) on many occasions and are keen to host again when we settle somewhere!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We have been the lucky beneficiary of an absolutely wonderful CS experience in Paris (see refs) and are looking forward to getting more involved. We have only been hosted one via the website so far but have had loads of great hosting/surfing experiences through just meeting people face-to-face whilst travelling or when we lived in Melbourne. I was recently re-inspired to try Couch surfing through the website from meeting some pretty keen advocates who have hosted and surfed and totally loved it (thanks Ashley!). We're a friendly, open-minded couple who like reciprocity, respect and good humour! We're clean and conscientious of communal spaces and happy to chip-in and help out in any way we can, naturally. We are on CS because we love meeting people and learning new things!

Interests

Slow Living, Community development, Health and well-being, gardening, DANCE! and of course music, cycling and hiking, wilderness and wildness. Permaculture, Progressive Social Work, Politics.. Well this could be a really long list!

• festivals
• dancing
• gardening
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• surfing
• social work
• rivers
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

My Favourite...
Ideas:
Peer-2-peer (everything, particularly radical/breakthrough/green/ technology-enabled), Skill-shares, 'the new share-based economy', Slow Living, Progressive Community Development, Permaculture, Anything that excites people really!

Films/TV:
Flight of the Conchords, That Mitchell & Webb look, Monty Python, the Mighty Boosh, Westwing, The Wire, The Newsroom, Colbert Report, Jeunet & Caro, Tarkovsky, illegal Art, Mash-ups,

Music:
Swing music (of course) - Cats and the fiddle, Benny Goodman, Fats Waller, COUNT BASIE!! Louie, Ella. Other: Mina Tindle, William Fitzsimmons, Iron & Wine, Kings of Convenience, Paul Simon, James Blake, Pantha Du Prince - lots of different genres really!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Untouched Wilderness, cemented mountains, hotsprings and freezing rivers in Japan, Poverty and abuses, spirit and creativity in India, generosity and obesity, wisdom and quirky christians in America, a wild, long rickshaw ride through Bangkok that crammed 8 days into 8hrs with a gregarious Brit. Amazing train travels through SE Asia, Swing-Dancing festivals in Europe, Kayaking through a Swedish Archipeligo (Dolaro), Hiking a mini Camino Del Norte (our ˝Caminito˝!) in Spain, Barcelona-everything (especially swing-dancing by the sea!) and 2 months house-sitting on the most incredible Croatian Island (thanks to some fellow Aussies) and most recently house-sitting in the Rieti Hills outside Roma - totally magical!

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught English long ago in Japan but am always happy to help out if I can! I have a knack for thinking of 'lateral' solutions to a range of problems. I am happy to brainstorm and problem-solve in many areas of life! Most of all I am open minded and willing to 'meet people were they are' (I am a Social Worker by training after all). Kathryn brings a bubbly warmth and a zest for life, a talent for organising and administering, game-playing and Healthy Living (A Naturopath by trade).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to exchange ideas! I am passionate and curious about all sorts of things! Especially travel, community, philosophy and politics. Of course we can share travel stories but we are also keen to share chores and help out where we can :-)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Croatia, Italy, Japan

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