I'm an artist and writer who also sells real estate. I have lived in Oregon my whole life and know the area really, really well. I grew up in a small town in the Columbia River Gorge, a beautiful area with lots of hiking, swimming and waterfalls. I also lived in various neighborhoods in Portland in my twenties. I know the city well and love to recommend cool places to go.

I have one book published, used to perform poetry on stage, have hosted storytelling events and have shown my artwork in different venues around town. I am currently writing my second book. I am home a lot during the day because I sell real estate and my schedule frequently changes.

I hosted couch surfers when I lived in San Francisco for two years and really liked meeting people from all over the world. I have some great memories including a sweet couple from Spain who made us an authentic Spanish meal and gave us Spanish Poetry!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As I said earlier, I have hosted people in the past through couch surfing and it was a positive experience. My goal is to travel to Europe at some point and I would love to use couch surfing as a way to do this. I love to travel, but unfortunately, being a starving artist for most of my life, I have never been able to afford it. My mother and I have talked about traveling to London and Rome at some point in the future and I see this as a way we can afford to do it. Plus, I really love meeting people from all over the world and hearing about their lives. I am a naturally curious person and find other cultures fascinating!

Interests

I enjoy cooking, hiking and spending time with my family. I also love reading, writing, making art and watching documentaries about history and travel. Other interests are: wine, gardening, storytelling and music.

• arts
• writing
• books
• poetry
• singing
• performing arts
• documentaries
• environment
• cooking
• wine
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• surfing
• swimming
• history
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

I have very eclectic tastes: I listen to hip hop and Bob Dylan. I like reading silly articles online and reading serious history books. I love documentaries and stupid comedies. I don't generally listen to a lot of music at home, but will listen to the news or a podcast while I cook or clean.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I used to be a private investigator. I have had brain surgery twice. (The stories are a little more nuanced, but that's it in a nutshell!)

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a guitar that I play very poorly. But if you play, you are welcome to sing me some songs! I have a ton of art supplies that you are welcome to use and you can often find me cooking or making something to eat later and I will be happy to share a meal or three with you!

What I Can Share with Hosts

A huge knowledge of Portland and the whole area east of the Willamette. My house is close to public transportation and fairly accessible by bus and light rail. As I mentioned I have a guitar, wifi, a full kitchen, art supplies and a peaceful environment filled with art and plants.

My place is not centrally located but is peaceful and near a lot of wonderful natural attractions like Mt. Hood, the Columbia and Sandy Rivers, and tons of great waterfalls. It's the perfect spot for someone who would like to split their time between seeing the sites in Portland and then traveling to the beautiful wilderness areas nearby. You could have a very good time staying here without access to a car, but you will definitely need one if you are going to go hiking or to see the mountain, rivers or waterfalls. I am always happy to give rides when convenient, but unless I have agreed to it beforehand, please don't expect any rides from me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico