CURRENT MISSION

Build my career, develop my skills, and let those pay for my travel for a while.

ABOUT ME

About a year ago I finally fell in working with the National Park Service, which has been one of the best (series of) jobs I've ever had. So far it's taken me to the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, and -- coming up -- rural New Hampshire/Vermont.

It was funny reading my old profile on here when I got on to update it. I feel like in the past few years I've grown up a lot -- like I just put my head down to grind through what life threw at me, and then one day I woke up and I was somehow properly an adult. It's a work in progress, but I have a lot of self-knowledge, confidence, and patience now.

I like being outside. I've been happiest when I'm far from internet access, and surrounded by natural settings and a small, close community. I'm fascinated by languages and cultures, love to travel, and almost always look forward to getting back on the road and visiting dear friends from all over the world.

In recent years, I've felt a strong pull to put down some form of roots. Every time I've had the opportunity, I've still skewed toward pulling up stakes, though. I guess I haven't found home yet, but in the next few years I want to invest some of myself in a place. I'm in no rush.

I still want to travel, though. Oh, I always want to do that.

PHILOSOPHY

I just really don't feel like articulating a philosophy right now. I don't know where I'd begin. I guess mostly I just trust myself to make fair assessments of the world, try never to get too boxed into one way of looking at things, but also allow myself a degree of reliance on trusted old patterns. I follow my intuition.

I believe it's important to practice kindness.

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I hosted while in Germany, then stayed with a gracious host in Helsinki while waiting to surprise my then-girlfriend. I've also informally hosted and/or surfed friends and friends-of-friends a number of times that aren't reflected on this site.

Periodically reconnect with this site when I'm about to hit the road.

Centres d'intérêt

Outdoor Pursuits (Climbing/Backpacking/etc.)
Language
Literature
Woodworking
Building Things
Learning to Play Music
Learning to Make Art (this is one of my most rewarding hobbies because it's the one that I have to work hardest at)

• arts
• literature
• singing
• reading
• traveling
• investing
• woodworking
• music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• backpacking
• rock climbing
• languages

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

Too many to list. But Star Wars, Les Miserables in translation, stuff by Melville, Steinbeck, and Hemingway. I majored in English. I've read a lot of books. I liked most of the ones I finished.

I don't know when it happened, but a few years ago I stopped finding lots of new music to listen to. Perennial favorites include Radiohead, Wilco, Modest Mouse and the Decemberists. iTunes once told me I listen to Devendra Banhart's "Cripple Crow" more than any other album. I have broad, largely uninformed, eclectic tastes.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

I was prophesied over at a pentacostal revival-meeting when I was 14. It was pretty intense.

I chased a bear in my underwear.

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I can teach you to solve a Rubik's cube. Maybe I'll have one with me, but if you bring one to me, I can show you how to do it.

I know a couple of useful knots, some other handy stuff. I'm a pretty handy guy. And people usually find me engaging to talk to.

Ce que j'aimerais partager avec mes hôtes

Good conversation and stories, my share of the work (dishes, cleaning/tidying, chores, etc .), my spare outdoor gear, a few chords on the guitar and maybe some singing.

Pays que j'ai visités

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Germany, United States