I’ve lived in MT for about 8 years and I love it here. I’ve lived all over the state, and I love to hear peoples’ travel routes and plans!

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to settle down in the traditional sense. I feel deep kinship with people like me in this way. I learn everyday.

CURRENT MISSION
Just started grad school for family & couples counseling! I started a grant writing/consulting business 2 years ago, which I balance with school :)

PHILOSOPHY
-Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
-Respecting life without taking it too seriously.

"It is rare indeed that people give. Most people guard and keep; they suppose that it is they themselves and what they identify with themselves that they are guarding and keeping, whereas what they are actually guarding and keeping is their system of reality and what they believe themselves to be. One can give nothing whatever without giving oneself – that is to say, risking oneself. If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving. And, after all, one can give freedom only by setting someone free."
James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

"Seek first to understand. Then to be understood."
Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Habit #5)

"Teachers who offer you the ultimate answers do not possess the ultimate answers, for if they did, they would know that the ultimate answers cannot be given, they can only be received."
Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins, p. 338

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE

I surf when traveling, and I pick up hitchhikers. Offering a ride vs. a couch isn't all that different!! I also host cyclists from WarmShowers, and just joined TrustedHousesitters, to housesit/watch peoples' pets while they are out of town. Big fan of all of the work-trades out there to make traveling more of a lifestyle, and less of a destination to come and go from. I’ve benefited from them in so many ways, love being able to give back now by hosting and connecting.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE: see references

Interests

Cooking & baking bread; yoga; photography; sports; playing; being with my dog; learning about the world and diversity of cultures; being in and around bodies of water..amateur uke / guitar / snowboarder / surfer; just picked up beginner adult ice hockey :)

• books
• photography
• cooking
• beer
• yoga
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• snowboarding
• sports
• languages
• biking
• philosophical conversations

Music, Movies, and Books

Zen Mind, Beginner Mind; The Alchemist, The Fire Next Time; The Family Crucible; The Celestine Prophecy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Officiated my little sister's wedding (2024)
--and--
Midwifed for my dog’s surprise 11 puppies from pregnancy, to birth through adoption (2019). Five years later, friends and family have 3 of them, the rest are spread about in eastern MT!

Teach, Learn, Share

- Photography
-Cooking an elaborate meal

Share Time:
-Playing music
-Exploring downtown
-Drinking coffee on the deck
-Camping
-Sharing Ideas / philosophies...i love getting in peoples minds - and I’m not triggered by hard conversations with people with opposing beliefs or values to me. We are all so diverse. Try me. Teach me how you think.
-Languages -- I'm learning Spanish - let me try to fumble through speaking to you while you do the same in English

What I Can Share with Hosts

A home-cooked meal, a day without looking at a clock, adventure (hiking, swimming in alpine lakes, camping)

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, France, Gibraltar, Haiti, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Qatar, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States

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