CURRENT MISSION
To stay interested and active, playing music and traveling. Meeting neat people is always nice.

ABOUT ME
I'm pretty easy to know, cause I mean what I say and usually say what I mean. I like learning about another person's perspective on life, what they believe and why. Whatever it is that's different about them, I want to find the place where it connects to what is universal. This is interesting to me.

On the other hand, I usually try to mind my own business, even when I'm very curious. I'm grateful for what is revealed to me, especially of its own accord.

Anyway, I'm not too good at describing myself, so just send me a note if you are interested in coming to visit. We can go from there. That works pretty good.

PHILOSOPHY
For freedom of movement and thought and feeling. Involvement with person and place can have any amount of meaning and import, regardless of the time spent. Sometimes the reason things are so powerful is because they do not last. Every person has something to say and I hope to learn something from them. Truth is simple, and simplicity is powerful. I have no religious beliefs to speak of, but I am a haphazard believer in the connection of all processes of life, including (most of the time) humanity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
Initially, I was a host. And it was good.

Now, I am a surfer. Maybe this will be good, too.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
I hosted several times while living in downtown Galveston. I met many wonderful people from all over the United States, and I was grateful for the opportunity.

Now that I'm traveling, I hope to find some new beautiful people who are willing to help me make my way through new places. I am allowing the specific route of my travels to form rather casually and spontaneously, so all suggestions and accommodations are welcome. I am in no hurry to get anywhere, being more interested in the experience of new places. At some point in my travels, I will most likely fly to Europe for a few months of backpacking. I've never been overseas, so I am looking forward to it with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

In the meantime, I will be making my way into and around New England. I have never been there either and I don't even have any friends or family in the area. So I am a nervous about that, as well. Still, I am fairly confident in the CouchSurfing community, and I am grateful in advance for any generosity.

Interests

Traveling, walking, playing guitar and writing songs, reading, learning. I have recently re-involved myself in writing essays and short stories. Some of my writing is available on my website (www.mattysullivan.com), where you can find a free download of my self-published book, Shallow Dance.

• writing
• books
• dancing
• walking
• flying
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• backpacking
• tennis
• business

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Beatles, Ryan Adams, Led Zeppelin, Guy Clark, Butch Hancock, Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket, Willie Nelson, Doors, Cat Power, Come See My Dead Person, Rolling Stones, Wilco.

Movies: Martin Scorsese, Coen Brothers, Oliver Stone, Tarantino, Spike Jonze, Terry Gilliam, Cameron Crowe, Akira Kurosawa.

Books: Steinbeck, Tom Robbins, Tom Wolfe, Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, Harlan Ellison, Kurt Vonnegut.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When traveling through Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado, I climbed my way to the top of Treasure Falls. This involved the better part of two hours, during which time I made my way over a seemingly endless progression of treacherous rapids and slippery rocks. Only when I reached the top of the falls did I realize there was a footpath.

I struggled to the top of Flattop Mountain just outside of Anchorage, Alaska. In the middle of winter. In my tennis shoes.

While in Montana, trying to find a suitable angle for a picture, I fell into the Shoshone River.

Teach, Learn, Share

A lot of things will come to you if you are just willing to ask for them. Move and the way will open.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have no reasonable idea of what I can share with anyone, other than myself.

But for what it's worth, I am a relatively open-minded and liberal example of a small-town Texas boy. I hesitate to call myself a wise man, for I have too much personal evidence to the contrary. Still, I can usually recognize wisdom when it is presented to me, and most of the time I am eager to learn from others.

Plus I make good sandwiches.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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