CURRENT MISSION

My current mission is to explore as much as possible, to learn more about myself and the world around me and to share and connect with others.

ABOUT ME

I love to travel and learn anything new. I love most things outdoors! My favorite activities involve dancing, backpacking, rock climbing, mountain biking, playing in the water, reading, creative projects and spending time with the people in my life. I enjoy exploring new ways of simplifying life and sustainable living. I have a small (very small) construction company on the side and am interested in learning more about how to incorporate sustainable concepts into my projects. I love local, organic foods. I teach a weekly swing dance class and travel as much as I can for dance events or outdoor trips! I think of myself as an open minded, friendly person. I enjoy understanding other people's perspectives. I have a job that I like and that gives me enough freedom and flexibility to travel and pursue other things that I love.

PHILOSOPHY

I've explored many perspectives, religions and philosophies. I haven't found any one explanation that satisfies all of my questions or uncertainties. I believe that life is a mystery full of paradoxes of joy, beauty, suffering and growth. I've quit trying to make sense of it all. I try to trust myself and rely on an inner wisdom that seems to guide me if I listen. I want to experience all of my feelings and be willing to be a little less comfortable. I am learning to be less afraid and to push the limits of what I believe that I'm capable of.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have many friends who are couchsurfers and have spent time with couchsurfers who have come through town. Some of my closest friends just got back from a roadtrip where they couchsurfed the entire time. I've done some unofficial couchsurfing and love the philosophy and idea of the community as a way to discover new places and people in a more intimate way than travel alone can provide.

Interests

Anything outdoors! Especially hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, slack lining, mountain biking and snorkeling. I love to lindy hop, swing dance. I also enjoy writing. I have a blog that I keep about a project that I'm working on to build the first Passive House in Alabama. It's a blog that documents the logistics of the project itself as well as the personal quest for creating a simpler, meaningful life. The website is aggressivelypassivehouse.com in case you'd like to check it out!

• writing
• beauty
• dancing
• organic food
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• snorkeling
• rock climbing
• history
• religion
• tourism
• beaches
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen so many amazing places, there's no way to pick just one! Some of the most beautiful have been the fjords in Norway, the mountains of Yosemite and the red arches and canyons of Utah. The waterfalls, beaches and volcanoes of Costa Rica are amazing. The black sand beach in Hawaii, the rain forest in Peru was intense but fascinating. Belle-Ile and the Loire Valley castles in France were beautiful and full of history. The most beautiful hike I've ever been on was in the mountains of Mt. Baker, Washington, and the most beautiful backpacking trip was probably in the fall in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or hiking through the G20 trail in Corsica.

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Bahamas, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Japan, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

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