My boyfriend George and I are avid travelers but also quite happy to have called NW Montana home for the last dozen-plus years. Our current favorite mode of transport is sailboat--we keep a Venture 25 on Flathead Lake in the summer and try to sail whenever we travel--most recently to St. John, USVI, and the South Pacific and Australia. We also make regular trips to the Washington coast and are always on the lookout for sail time. When we're at home, we love to introduce visitors to our favorite local music, watering holes, sailing spots, and sometimes even powder stashes on the hill.

Our philosophy? Don't preach it--just live it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I once spent a month traveling in Morocco and staying with Peace Corps volunteers, a group of incredibly committed people willing to offer up not just a couch but dinners with their Moroccan "family," long conversations about the country and their work, and visits to areas and towns untouched by tourists. Some of the best couchsurfing ever.

George and I had a fabulous sailing adventure in 2012-13, hitching rides on boats for the crossing from Vanuatu to Australia, races around Vanuatu and in Sydney Harbor, and cruising in the Whitsundays. If you enjoy the water, definitely think about upgrading your couchsurfing to a sailboat berth. You can check out some of our adventures at http://ditchthedog.wordpress.com/.

We also enjoy spending time in our own gorgeous corner of NW Montana. But our cabin is TINY, so it's tight accommodations for hosting visitors. We do have tent/RV space, so hit us up if that's your thing. Mainly, we're happy to meet other travelers for a drink or sail and swap tales.

Interests

I'm lucky: I get paid to do what I love. I'm a writer and editor, working from my home in NW Montana. George is a carpenter by trade. When we're not working, you'll find us sailing, hiking, and gardening in the summer; alpine and cross-country skiing in the winter; and in both seasons listening to local music, swing dancing, cooking tasty meals, and hanging with a large, somewhat-crazy brown dog.

• dogs
• writing
• concerts
• dancing
• swing dancing
• dining
• cooking
• cheese
• drinking
• gardening
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• sailing
• skiing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

Formerly a musician and film critic, currently a writer and editor, there's little I don't enjoy watching, listening to, or reading. I'm a big jazz fan--listening and dancing. Current favorite author is probably Carlos Ruiz Zafon--but don't hold me to that.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

So many--diving with manta rays in Hawaii, standing on the lip of an active volcano in Vanuatu, crossing Russia by train, having every inch of my hands and wrists henna-ed in Morocco, swimming with iguanas in the Galapagos, biking the PCH, and incredible concerts, swing jams, and dinners all over the place!

Teach, Learn, Share

We're passionate about what we do and how we live. George and I find ourselves sharing stories about our own travels (one round-the-world trip, two bluewater crossings, and several European tours, U.S. roadtrips, and many other locations between us) and our adventures (sailing, hiking, skiing, climbing, diving, dancing, and more) as often as we listen to the tales of others. We also enjoy preparing and sharing good food, music, and other entertainment, so conversations tend to start over a good meal and end at a good show.

What I Can Share with Hosts

We love to cook, and when roadtripping we usually travel with homemade bread, cheese, home-canned goods, and a growler or two of our favorite local brew. So definitely plan on letting us make a mess (and clean it up!) in your kitchen during our stay. Still have doubts? Check out my newest food blog project: http://twiceastasty.com/

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Hungary, Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States