After being diagnosed in my thirties as Autistic, I've been spending the rest of my life since then challenging my own limits. Many of these limits revolved around simple things like food. Some foods that are now among my favorites, like avocado, red wine, coffee, and pho, were things I never even had the nerve to try until after my diagnosis.

So many adventures have happened since then. I learned how to become a photographer and have exhibited my work publicly. I've learned to ride a motorcycle and even joined a motorcycle club and traveled around the southeastern US by motorcycle. I helped make a visual FX heavy scene for the movie "Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland" just because I had the opportunity and it sounded like fun. Also after being obese most of my life, I've lost about 85 pounds and I'm still going (down to a "dad bod", but aiming for something fitter than that). While I don't have a real written-down bucket list, I'm approaching life from the point of view now that living richly is now my "special interest".

FAQ: Since you're autistic, can you speak? Are you like Rainman or something?
Yes, I can speak. I can't always speak well if I'm under a lot of stress, like adjusting to a new environment. But most people would not know I am autistic without me telling them first. I'm not like Rainman. :) I am married, I have children. My wife seems to think I am a good husband and father. So if you have preconceptions of what autistic people are like, I might disappoint you with how *normal* I am.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

While I've confronted many of the challenges that have faced me as an autistic person, one big one that I'm still working on is air travel. I'd like to push myself to see more of the world, and get more comfortable with meeting new people and seeing their town through their lens. I only just got my first passport in 2017 and will be using it soon after writing this to embark on a road trip across Ireland.

I also sometimes do some public speaking at tech industry events, and I'd like to maybe start doing that more often than I have been in other towns.

Interests

• dogs
• photography
• red wine
• coffee
• walking
• minimalism
• hiking
• canoeing
• kayaking
• doctor who
• self improvement
• street photography
• fountain pens
• kaizen

Music, Movies, and Books

My musical tastes are all over the place. I like Bjork a lot... Cocorosie, FKA Twigs, classic rock, old school hip hop, Irish and Scandinavian traditional music... sorry, but not a huge fan of Country-Western. :)

I love movies. Comic book movies are probably my favorite genre. Also love sci fi & horror. My favorite movie might be "The Fifth Element".

Books and I have had a strange relationship. I have many books, and I've read many books. Sometimes I binge heavily on them, and other times I might go a year without reading one. I really liked Neil Gaiman's "Trigger Warning" as one of my favorite modern books. But I like old stuff, too. Classics. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "Moby Dick" were fun.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Just one? I once went on a two week motorcycle adventure with a bunch of my friends. I rode through sunshine and rain, in cold and hot weather, up and down mountains. That might be one of the most spiritual things I've done.

Bonus round: I went swimming with manatees in 2016. That was amazing. And I was able to assist wildlife conservation staff with loggerhead sea turtle nest "boils" (hatchings). Super cool.

Teach, Learn, Share

Have a fancy camera and want to learn how to get more out of it? I can teach you some photography methods to help bring up your game. I might also be able to help out aspiring models with their portfolios (though I don't travel with all of my studio gear).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm low maintenance and pretty self-sufficient. I don't smoke or drink habitually. But I'm happy to enjoy cigars/pipe/hookah (not cigarettes) socially, the occasional beer or red wine. While I tend to be introverted at first, strike up the right topic of conversation and it can go deep.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States