I've been a lifelong traveler but with COVID, moving cross country, and embarking on a new career, my passport sadly started gathering dust... But to heck with that! After 5 years living in the same place my feet have grown itchy and I'm back out into the larger world :D Looking to meet new folks, make new friends, explore & gallivant.

Currently living in Long Beach, CA. My time off work is spent practicing yoga, walking barefoot on the dog beach, SUPing around the bay, trying out new restaurants, and attempting to adopt a minimalist lifestyle (please don't ask how it's going). I recently started painting and am trying to do more creative endeavors.

Previously I lived in Madison, WI for graduate school 2016-2020 and before that I traveled, worked, and volunteered around SE Asia (Borneo, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.). Domestically I've also lived in Nashville, Asheville, Eugene, Portland, and Denver.

I'm a backpacker, adventurer, snowboarder, biker, yogi, buddhist meditator, wine drinker, mostly vegetarian/pescatarian, miss having a garden and home to renovate, ex-Ultimate Frisbee player, and probably-retired motorcycle racer.

PHILOSOPHY

"Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life." -Mary Oliver

"Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contract myself. I am vast. I contain multitudes." -Walt Whitman

Also, "Living like Weasels" by Annie Dillard

"1984" is my favorite book; it was intended to be satire, not prophetic.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been on this platform for close to 2 decades and have made incredible friends around the globe, formed up travel groups in various countries, hosted events and shared meals, hosted, surfed, etc. etc.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've surfed in 4 continents now and met some mighty fine folk through hangouts, potlucks, and surfing. Great way to expand your knowledge of humanity.

Interests

Getting there by going spontaneously, finding adventure along the way. Learning constellations and attempting night photography. Making friends with animals and volunteering along the way. Enjoying a lazy sun and a picnic with friends. Moto-excursions, mountains to climb, flowers to smell. I'm game for most anything and particularly if it comes with hilarity and/or conversation.

• animals
• dogs
• horses
• culture
• books
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• potluck
• picnic
• motorcycles
• flowers
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• backpacking
• snowboarding
• soccer
• volunteering
• road trips
• mountains
• humor
• local food
• stars
• comedy shows
• intellectual conversations
• stand up paddle
• hot tub

Music, Movies, and Books

yes. yes. and yes.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Antarctica.
Sarawak Chamber, Mulu National Park, Borneo
Sailed from Puerto Rico to Tobago & back (approx. 6 weeks)
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Waking up to the Indri in Madagascar
Orphan's Thanksgiving Potluck, Portland, OR

Teach, Learn, Share

Mighty talks, knowledge of local beer/wine culture. Passionate discourse & heckling re: soccer/futbol. Cooking. Swapping book titles, exploring nature, intellectual indulgences. Reiki, spiritual musings...

I'm a great reader of bedtime stories.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking, story telling, dog training tips, mango carving skills, procuring wine, lots of laughter.

Countries I’ve Visited

Antarctica, Argentina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominica, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Madagascar, Thailand, United States

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