I’m a late 20s artist and tattooer who has been stationary for a few years, building a career that would allow me to pay my bills and also travel around the world! I’m beginning to plan some trips, both around the US and abroad, and will hopefully use couchsurfing to meet people along the way.

I love making art, biking, hiking, swimming, floating down lazy rivers, soaking in hot water (hot springs, hot tubs, you name it), the ocean, decorating and tending to my home, and cooking big pots of homemade southern food. I’ve driven across the US four times in four years and love finding hidden spots along the way!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I used to host travelers in college when my housemates were more laid back, but the housemates I’ve lived with the last 6 years are closed off people who don’t want strangers in their house. I hope to change this in coming months so I can begin hosting again, since we have a spare bedroom in my house! I love sharing stories and learning about cultures and ways of thinking outside my own, and love sharing space and food with people who need a place to stay.

Interests

I love being outside, nature, swimming, hiking, camping, the ocean, scuba diving, and cycling. I'm a for-fun photographer and find great comfort and satisfaction in the art of documenting moments of life on my film camera. Here's my flickr page for a look into my world! https://www.flickr.com/photos/marielgates

I am really fascinated with the process of pregnancy, birth, holistic medicine and alternative methods of parenting. With these interests, I plan on becoming a naturopathic doctor, doula, and midwife in the future. My current artistic interests are printmaking, painting, and actively keeping a sketchbook. I love to read, write, journal, blog, create, build, and learn.

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• arts
• culture
• ethics
• dining
• blogging
• painting
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• scuba diving
• swimming
• communications
• genealogy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I moved to Melbourne, Australia to study abroad for 6 months when I was 21. For the grand finale of that experience, I solo hitchhiked 1,600 miles from Cairns, Australia down to Sydney, Australia. I met some of the most amazing kindred spirits, both in Melbourne and on the road, and gained a lot of faith in myself and lost a lot of fear and jaded beliefs about the unknown and the potential for people to give to you even when they have little to nothing to gain.

And driving across the United States four times in four years ! Two of those times were alone ~

Teach, Learn, Share

Get me talking about the benefits of breast feeding or the reasons behind the high infant-mortality rates in the US, or about midwifery and birth and babies and motherhood and genetics and evolution in general and I'll get really excited.

I love hearing other people's stories and learning from other people's wisdom! I believe we all have a lot to offer if we just open up enough to share things.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good energy, a listening ear, a conversation partner, stories and experiences from my country, state, and world!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belize, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States