CURRENT MISSION

ESCHEW ENNUI

ABOUT ME

My friends would describe me as reliable, fun and funny, generous, creative and game. I'm a pretty good cook and I'll fix you breakfast (I insist!), pour you a glass of wine or mix you a cocktail. I love checking out new restaurants especially ethnic cuisine. I enjoy live theater/performance art, artists, museums, street fairs, art festivals, county fairs, thrift stores, live music in small venues, big cities, mountains, oceans, skyscrapers, architecture, hiking, biking, local culture, blue skies, winter, public libraries, donuts. I prefer to be outdoors.

PHILOSOPHY

Leave No Trace. Do No Intentional Harm. We're all pretty much the same around the world. Be curious.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm a low maintenance and respectful traveler and believe that if the Dalai Lama was a backpacker, he would say: "leave no trace" and "do no intentional harm". Travel is about experiences and couch surfing enables the additional dimension of making connections. At the end of the day, we're all pretty much the same.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have both surfed and hosted. Both are great.

Interests

Last year I went on nearly two dozen trips: Austin TX, San Francisco, NYC, Door County, Milwaukee, Orlando, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Santa Fe, Taos, North Shore MN... to name a few. I enjoy traveling (all aspects even the act of getting there) and checking out the local flavor whether it's food, culture, or just hanging out. I like to hike/backpack/camp/bike and try to incorporate some kind of outdoor, physical activity into my travel plans. New Mexico, for instance, was fantastic for hiking. Renting a bike was a great way to see San Francisco. And there's nothing better than a long morning walk through NYC's Central Park. I like to read up ahead of time (travel books like Lonely Planet, biographies, history, maps et al). I want to walk the Camino de Santiago. And live on an Ashram in India. And live in West Africa.

• arts
• culture
• books
• theater
• performing arts
• architecture
• beauty
• concerts
• festivals
• dining
• cooking
• breakfast
• wine
• cocktails
• thrifting
• traveling
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• cartography
• history
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love jazz and listening to live jazz. I also like world music, R&B, soul, funk, classical, pop, rock. I appreciate a wide variety of music. What's on your iPOD? I just saw Raging Bull for the first time. Masterpiece. I read always and my library card is used almost as much as my bank card.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I absolutely love hiking the Superior Hiking Trail along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. Last year I biked the South Shore of Lake Superior a distance of 72 miles. Hiking in New Mexico was a highlight and I would like to do an extended backpacking trip there. Seeing the Crazy Horse Monument in the Black Hills was awe-inspiring as was seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam. Big cities like Chicago and NYC are indescribable: their diversity and energy and architectural beauty abounds. Attending a recent concert at Bayfront Park in Duluth on a perfect Duluth Day was memorable.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am a true generalist, curious about many things but not an expert in any one thing. I'm a seeker and experiential learner. The world is one, big delicious place. Taste and see how good it is.

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States