CURRENT MISSION

To experience life, live and appreciate each moment, be honest and true to myself and to others.

ABOUT ME

I am a very positive person who loves life. I'm thoroughly loving retirement...highly recommend it!! I'm taking advantage of opportunities, and creating of my own. I love learning about new people, cultures, perspectives on life, and new languages. I recently became a group leader for global building trips with Habitat for Humanity. What a great way to travel and get to know the people and the country!

PHILOSOPHY

Whether you believe you can or whether you believe you cannot, you will be right! (In other words, attitude is everything in life!)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm both a surfer and a surfee (That's an old term I just made up!)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first couchsurfing experience was when my daughter and I spent a wonderful time with a couple in Steamboat Springs in order to go skiing. We were their first couch surfers and they really showed us how to be great couchsurfing hosts! Since then I've couchsurfed a bit and hosted a bit. Looking forward to couchsurfing internationally. :)

Update: I've recently been couchsurfing more within the US, Mexico, and Europe. Unfortunately I don't live in a city that attracts a lot of potential couch surfers. So if you're coming my way I'd be happy to host!

Interests

I spend my leisure time biking, kayaking, skiing, and reading. I also love dancing, traveling, camping, and any new experiences. And, of course, spending time with my awesome children and my 3 amazing, adorable grandchildren. (I might be biased!)

• singing
• dancing
• cooking
• running
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• skiing
• snowshoeing
• languages
• scubadiving

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite genre of books is historical fiction. I also like books that challenge my view of reality or my cultural values...see things from other vantage points. I'll read anything by Bryce Courtney, Jodi Picoult, Nelson de Mille, Leon Uris, Ken Follett, Herman Wouk, and many others...

My taste in music is quite eclectic. Going to veterinary school in Colorado with lots of cowboys got me liking country music (and dancing!!). I also love musicals, some jazz, some classical, even some rap, and oldies from the40s, 50s (those two before my time but still good music), 60s and beyond.

Enjoy most any movies except dumb, slapstick and most horror movies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

So far, the most amazing thing I've done in my lifetime (besides the giving birth and raising 3 incredible daughters) has been helping build a house for a family in Papua New Guinea. We lived with the people in a village with no running water and built the house without power tools (no electricity.)

Update 2013: Now I am involved with 200 women in rural Zambia who are trying to improve their lives and their community. Together we're trying to establish a poultry business to bring them income. They are amazing! What a passion for learning they have.

Update 2018: My youngest daughter and I built her a tiny house that she's been living in for over a year, even though it's not completely finished yet. (That trim work goes on and on and on...even in a tiny house!)

Update 2022: Fully retired now and thoroughly enjoying retirement with more time for grandchildren and travel; visit with family and friends, old and new; do woodworking, ...pretty much can do whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want. Life is good!

Update 2023: To celebrate a major birthday I decided to walk the Frances route of the Camino de Santiago: 800 kilometers (sounds better than 500 miles!) in 32 days. It was an amazing experience for lots of reasons that didn't include the walking. (Hint: it's all about the people you meet, the connections you make, and the support for, and the acceptance of and from, everyone.) It's life-changing and yet inexplicable to those who haven't done it!

Teach, Learn, Share

I have some knowledge and experience in cooking, sewing (esp. quilting and cross-stitching), wood working, house building. I've taught my daughters and their various boyfriends how to dance. Travel tips and tricks.

I'm open to learning and trying (almost) anything new...at least once!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories and experiences, traveling ideas, cooking, ideas for decorating, woodworking projects, design ideas for houses and furniture,

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Malawi, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Chile, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, United States