CURRENT MISSION

To explore endlessly, to roam freely, to give generously.

ABOUT ME

I am an entrepreneur, world traveler, and day dreamer. I live in a community house that includes a cat and three part-time dogs. I love to garden, and am inspired by community-based living. My days are filled with several kinds of work, from nannying a three-year-old to geeky web site development and community-based currencies. Think of me as a goddess among a gaggle of geeks.

I was born and raised in southwest Kansas, in a town you've never heard of. I have a huge family - my mother is the youngest of 15 children, and I have over 100 Aunts, Uncles and 1st cousins. I have lived mostly in Colorado for the past 6 years, with a brief stint in Houston, Tx.

I quit school at 15 (and did manage to finish school in creative ways) to pursue my dream of being a missionary. I participated in a full time ministry (with a religion I no longer belong to) for 5 years.

This lead to me having an interesting, varied, and long job history. I've washed dishes, waited tables, cleaned about everything you can think of, driven a school bus, been a lunch lady, telemarketed, taught kindergarden, and danced on a beer tub. The important thing to remember about my job history (for those who can't imagine it), is that I've been working since I was 14 years old, and I've usually had 3 jobs at a time.

Bodewadmindow. I am Potawatomi and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. My family is of the Thunder Clan. Wawasmokwe ndezh ne kas. My name is Wawasmokwe, which in English is "Summer Lightning Woman." I am ever learning what being Native American means for me, and how I can contribute to this community.

What else to know about me? I dream all the time - both awake and asleep. I have a deep commitment to honor the light and love in other people. I love to read children's books. I read books of all kinds. I'm awed by trees. I'm a sucker for action movies. I wish I still knew all the people I've loved. Nothing makes me happier than digging in the dirt and seeing things grow. Except perhaps hearing the rain while snuggling up with a good blanket and dagoba hot chocolate.

PHILOSOPHY

Love is the greatest of all gifts.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Early in 2007, I took a month-long adventure throughout Europe, staying with several people, including one person we met through couch surfing! It was a great experience. Our household has hosted several couchsurfers, and it has always worked out very well. I look forward to hosting many more couch surfers.

Interests

travel, gardening, the Internet, community-building, currencies, ecovillages, politics, spirituality, yoga, reading, permaculture, sustainability, community, relocalization, non-profits, entrepreneurship, music, art

• cats
• dogs
• arts
• books
• cooking
• chocolate
• beer
• yoga
• gardening
• politics
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• knitting
• music
• surfing
• entrepreneurship
• history
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite Films: The Princess Bride, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Harold and Maude. I love action films of all kinds.

Currently Reading: I am always reading several things at once. I am currently in the midst of "Food Not Lawns" and "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," with a dozen other books in the queue.

Other recent favorites: Mutant Message Down Under, Seeing Nature: Deliberate encounters with the natural world (by Paul Krafel), The Fifth Sacred Thing, Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal, Free at Last: The Sudbury School Model, The Songlines, the Ender Series, and anything by Tom Robbins and Paulo Coehlo.

What I'm listening to: Cat Stevens, Suzanne Vega, Cowboy Junkies, Imogen Heap, Feist, Iron and Wine.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A close friend recently gave birth, and I was honored to help with the home-birth. It is by far the most amazing thing I have ever done; see a person born into the world.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know how to knit (although I haven't in a long time) I'm a great cook and love to create delicious meals for people. I'm always learning more about gardening. I'd like to play more music; I have a drum that never gets used.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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