CURRENT MISSION

I suppose I'm looking for balance in life. I try to be aware of my place on the planet, the space I occupy and resources I consume and the impact I have on others and the planet itself. I try to focus on proportion and search for contentment in my life.

ABOUT ME

What would my best friend's most likely say about me? Probably things like: "Joe has the most awesome couch. I've slept on it many times and I've sometimes received a great night's sleep". Or maybe, "If sofas were rated on a scale of 1 - 10, Joe's would be at least a 6.5. Soft, but with just the right firmness." Or maybe, "The only thing greater than Joe's couch is his dog, Ruby, who is usually sleeping on the couch alongside Joe".

PHILOSOPHY

I tell my friends to focus on "The Happiness Equation". I don't think people spend enough time really exploring what it is that makes them happy. Many people think one thing may bring them happiness and they seek it and sometimes get it only to realize that they're unhappy even after having obtained it. I think people need to spend more time determining what will truly make them happy. It may mean they compromise on things they once thought were important but in the end I think if they can get their Happiness Equation to be in balance, they might find true contentment.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I know (and like) most of my neighbors. I play sports and like eating breakfast at local joints. I sometimes volunteer by driving elderly neighbors to appointments and clean up local lakes and trails of trash. I recycle. I ride my bike nearly as much as I drive my car and I probably walk more than most people. I save worms who've become lost on cement sidewalks after a rainy night and I only occasionally drink more than I should.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far so good!

Interests

I like being outdoors. I play a bunch of sports, hang out with my Border Collie, Ruby. I like reading, traveling, building things. I like eating and cooking but not so much the cleaning up part. I like drinking with my buddies and going to a good movie. I REALLY enjoy living in Austin. I've been here about two years now and can honestly say there aren't too many other places in the US that I'd rather live. Come on down and check us out!

• dogs
• cooking
• breakfast
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• sports
• volunteering
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm listening to Silversun Pickups, Of Monsters and Men, One Republic, Cut Copy, Fitz and the Tantrums, Imagine Dragons and many others these days. I'm an Alt Nation fan.

Some recent favorite books and movies include:
1. Game of Thrones (books)
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Book 1 only, not 2 and 3)
3. Inglorious Basterds
4. Drive
5. Michael Clayton
6. Headhunters (Norwegian film)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm pretty well-traveled and have seen and explored many places. Many of them were amazing and the experiences you get when you're traveling can be pretty great. In the last few years I've become interested in renewable energy and sustainable living. I think there are some really amazing things going on those fields. I was just a baby but being alive when a man walk on the moon was pretty darn amazing. I hope I'm around for another milestone like that.

Teach, Learn, Share

Man, I'm going to have to think about this one some more and come back to it later.

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