I am a 32 year old artist and social working living in Portland, OR with my wife in our newly built basement apartment. I love going on travel adventures, cooking, camping, rock hounding, hiking, crafting, and gardening. If I'm not at work or out in nature with my wife you will most likely find me painting or working on a DIY project. While being on the go to travel, or searching for rocks/gems all across the Pacific Northwest are amongst my beloved passtimes; I love my home and dearly enjoy being there. Decorating our home in a mixture of art, rugs, and trinkets from travel, family, or flea markets brings me deep amounts of joy.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing for so many reasons!
1. Obviously, staying in hotels when you travel solo is expensive, and the sharing economy is more my style.
2. Meeting new people is fun! How else will we have friends all over the world when we are old and gray?
3. Sharing new experiences with a local makes traveling feel more authentic and creates a sense of connectedness that staying at hostels and hotels will always lack.
4. Memories made at home, hanging out in the living room, or around the dining table over a meal are by far some of my favorite.
5. Sharing the place I love more than anything in the world, my home, with others brings me joy.
6. I want people to feel safe and welcome in Portland.
7. I love making breakfast and brunch!!!

Interests

• arts
• street art
• cooking
• paleo diet
• crafts
• gardening
• thrifting
• painting
• hiking
• camping
• art history
• travel
• organic gardening
• wild camping
• campfire
• vegan cooking
• flea markets
• arts and crafts
• urban gardening
• free camping
• rockhounding
• hiking in the mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I like folk music, classic rock from the 1970s, some jam band stuff, bluegrass, and a little electronica. Fleetwood Mac is a favorite, but I listen to new releases religiously , too. iTunes subscription has been pretty life changing in terms of endless brand new music at my fingertips.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hosted an art show in a local gallery to raise awareness and funds for the Sexual Assault Resource Center here in Portland, OR.

Teach, Learn, Share

Do you wanna learn how to make a really bomb mess of hashbrowns from scratch? I'm pretty awesome at that. I would love to paint with you and my father in law loves to share fresh fruit and veggies from his garden.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share about traveling in the united states; about making arts and crafts; working in social work; the state of homelessness in Portland, OR; about growing up poor, queer, and female in middle America; and about how to cook or bake lots of fabulous American dishes and treats.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, United States