Interested, engaged, humble, creative, and kind. Looking for happy and exciting experiences with other laid-back and curious passengers.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'd like to live and connect with other humans without the constant exchange of currency, and I would like to be a part of a community whose ideas can help me trade obstacles for opportunities in my travel wishes.

Interests

I love to find fascination in any topic that passes within view. It can be overwhelming and sometimes frustrating to try and eat up as many ideas as I'd like, but there has always been room for fierce interests in music, art, philosophy, literature, and science. The natural world amazes me to no end, and coming from the heart of Chicago I have an aching appetite to get outside and away from anything resembling a building.

I'm always looking forward to adventures on bikes and trails, in tents and oceans and rivers, and saving my pocket money for street foods and fruits I've never tasted before.

• arts
• literature
• cooking
• traveling
• cars
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• science
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

In the spectrum of moods I'm bound to like everything at least once! I keep an eclectic taste for the most part but have always adored Yo La Tengo, The Cure, Guided by Voices, Nirvana, Prefab Sprout, the War on Drugs, Cracker, Lucinda Williams, Bowie, Genesis, Yes, Camper van Beethoven, King Crimson, Daft Punk, Classic rock, Classical, country, so on so forth anything that has some guts to it.

I'm not so big on movies but definitely loved There Will Be Blood. So there's that.

Can't help but appreciate good science fiction, particularly in short-story form. I'm very partial to Ray Bradbury, James Thurber, Philip K Dick, Alastair Reynolds, Steven Baxter, Edward O Wilson, Bruce Sterling, Neil Stephenson, and recommendations from smart cookies like you.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A 3 day hike in/out of the Grand Canyon. Steep and punishing down the South Kaibob, a sore but relaxing day at the Phantom Ranch, and a 10 hour slog on the Bright Angel trail through drizzle-turned to rain-turned to slush-turned to 8 inches of packed snow and finally cresting to shovel cars out of snow drifts. So much loose sediment was being washed away, we were literally watching the process of the canyon widening.

Teach, Learn, Share

I don't yet know what I have to teach, but I try to live through kind actions. I will never be able to learn enough, but I am absolutely going to try! Share everything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Have a kitchen? I am an competent cook and excellent meal-improviser. Your cutting-board tasks and meal prep are in good hands, and I am a happy helper cleaning up whatever mess results.

I am a musician, guitar- and bass-wise. I can share my songs or pull up new ones via internet to learn, or jam along with others.

Above all else I am a curious and compassionate person, eager to talk and share stories and learn new things from new friends.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States