We only get one chance at life, so do it right the first time. At this moment I am recovering from a broken back, my L2, so I am hosting only the most perfect people LOL

I retired from state government in 2008 and went to Iraq and then Burma during their struggles, on anti-corruption and pro-democracy programs. Now I mostly stay home but I am not a drone: a pretty good cook, shake a mean cocktail, and work in my garden when I am not reading, NPR/WBUR are my constant companion. I am an omnivore who gladly accommodates vegans. My tribe of 11 rescue cats is important to me. They are love machines.

I am glad to host but this is my home, neither a hotel nor a restaurant. St Pete is a city of great food and nightlife but my home is on the mellow side.

My house is small (900 sq ft) with a large living room; a nice kitchen; a single bathroom; my bedroom; and a tiny guest bedroom for you with a queen sized bed. There is great outdoor space including a covered furnished patio. Central aircon inside, Wifi, Netflix and Prime throughout the property. Parking in my driveway.

I rarely eat before noon so plan on providing your own breakfast. I always have eggs, oats, instant grits, plain yoghurt, dried fruits, nuts and breads (rarely milk or cream) but you should bring your favorites. You have access to all of my staples, spices, pickled, canned and fridge items. I want you to feel at home. You don't need to ask to consume, just thank me and invite me to share what you prepare. I always do the same for my guest.

Walmart is six blocks away and a small urban liquor store is one block away. Aldi is one mile away. I might even take you to my favorite purveyor of day boat seafood; or the best Italian market south of NYC. Yes, food is important here at Cat House 209.

Please be quiet at night but I am always awake well past midnight. My guests and their well behaved friends are fine on the patio, 24/7. My room is always off limits and your room is also. No food in your room, never. No tobacco inside, never. Shoes off as soon as you enter the house. 420 friendly. Don't be shy about lighting up, indoors or outside. We are not yet a state where recreational is legal. I have tons of beach blankets for some of North America's best beaches, less than ten miles away, 20 minutes by bus rapid transit (SunRunner).

This is Florida, one of the frontlines of climate change, and daytime temps are near 90 until November 1, Big rain comes every few days with tons of sun in between. Water and electricity are precious commodities so please don't waste them.

I will expect a little work from you, doing a little sweeping or wiping the sink. You will always need to clean up immediately after your kitchen activities since counter space is limited and bugs are everywhere here in Florida.

Mass transit in Florida sucks but I am only 200 yards to the central bus terminal. sot it is not so bad. Getting here from the Tampa airport requires Uber/taxi and is expensive ($50) although there is an infrequent bus that can get you into St Pete www.psta.nethttps://psta.net/media/5781/route-300x-022722.pdf and connect to the #52 bus which drops you two blocks from my house (one block before the bus terminal). $2.25 for each bus ride., cheap but inconvenient.

The BRT SunRunner is a free limited stop comfy bus from the Harbor in the east to the Gulf beaches on the west. Totally bike friendly, it is one of the best mass transit rides in the US.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I like to travel. I like helping other people travel. But I have only hosted, never Surfed.

Interests

• dining
• cooking
• politics
• trivia
• traveling
• volunteer work
• blues
• rock'n'roll

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Chocolat; Snatch; Blade Runner (running the range from sweetly erotic to the absurd to the dystopic future).

I am old and so is my music: Richard Thompson, June Tabor, Los Lobos, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Pink Martini, Nina Simone, Gershwin, world music. But I also love Winehouse and Adele so maybe I am not as old as I sometimes appear.

Authors: Jared Diamond, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Mark Kurlansky, Michael Pollan. I mostly read non-fiction in politics, economics, climate change, food and anthropology. I can be really boring.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two total eclipses of the sun, one in Mexico and one in Venezuela. The hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies that winter in Mexico. The Pacific gray whale breeding waters at Bahia Magdalena. Bio-luminescent plankton in the Galapagos. The aurora in northern Quebec. Petra in Jordan. Patagonia. The Amazon. Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Meeting my hero Mandela; spending my 40th birthday lunch with the Dali Lama; and working with war refugees who teach you why life is precious.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am glad to cook for anyone who hosts me and of course I will cover all of the food expenses.

Countries I’ve Visited

Anguilla, Argentina, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands Antilles, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin (French part), Scotland, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S., Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Myanmar, Thailand, United States