CURRENT MISSION

"It's a question of discipline," the little prince told me later on. "When you've finished washing and dressing each morning, you must tend your planet." - from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince"

ABOUT ME

ever in progress...
(promise, more details when I've time!)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Just getting my feet wet so far, but think this is a *great* project and I'm eager to participate more... Folks should come check out southern Illinois - it's natural beauty and biodiversity is one of the best-kept secrets in the Midwest. And the wine trail is a delightful way to pass some time, too! :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Prior to actually joining CS, some of the happiest travel memories are of couchsurfing.
Premiere event: October 2002 - long, lonesome trek from Carbondale to Traverse City, MI to attend Great Lakes Bioneers. A wonderful woman I'd never met before, Karen, took me in, as I could not afford lodging. That same conference weekend was her 40th birthday party, and so I got to meet her father and a bunch of her friends - it was Wonderful.

Other experiences:
- camping on Topher's sister's floor in Chicago for Strictly Sail... I awoke early our first morn there, and took a walk: the neighborhood was this great mixture of Scandinavian and Middle Eastern restaurants and such. Ah, the fun we had on that trip!
- back in Oct. '05, after conducting our 2nd Heartland Bioneers Conference, which also involved launching an internet-based survey for my dissertation!, I fled the Midwest by train and stayed a few days at Topher's pad in Monterey. It was wonderful! Got to hang out at Fisherman's Wharf watching the gulls and otters, went to the Aquarium, hiking in Garrapata SP, a lil' wine tasting... talk about an excellent and MUCH-needed vacay! Still hoping for a repeat someday...
- staying in San Francisco with friend Sylvia, who lives right near Crissy Field and the GG Bridge. Can you imagine how lovely it was to park right outside the Palace of Fine Arts? I go back ev'ry chance I get!
- and my first OFICIAL CS experience was this spring, mid-May in Chicago for Green Fest at Navy Pier. I didn't even realize it at first, b/c travel and such was all handled by a friend of mine. But meeting Rosie and staying at her place was kind of a highlight of the trip :) She was a very gracious hostess, and an interesting person that I wish I'd had more time to get to know. Plus, I was amazed that she hosted THREE of us, right before she was leaving the country for a couple weeks - I think traveling to/thru Thailand?

Interests

oh, I'll really have to come back to this later...
Sailing, hiking, gardening, leisurely biking
Wine, wine, wine
Good live music - almost any genre

Have you heard of Bioneers?? [www.bioneers.org]
and closer to home = www.southernsustainability.org

• aquaria
• arts
• humanities
• beauty
• wine
• wine tasting
• partying
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• live music
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• sailing
• lakes

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