2023: Now living in Berkeley! I balance a fulltime job while volunteering in activism. I love the community out here and feel it fits me best.

2019: Hello, My name is Michael! Aka Roe. I am taking my travels through a self seeking journey on the road. I grew up with a middle-class family in the suburbs of Chicago, where I had an great childhood. I find happiness in simplicity and latching on to things that make me human. You can say I am a free-spirited. I don't drink though I still enjoy going out and having fun.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have found myself dissatisfied with the average nine to five life, staying in one place and never trying anything new. I would like to get out and experience what this life has to offer, especially while I am still on the cusp of being young. You can say that what I am doing is one of those self seeking journey's that I am unsure where it is going to lead me. I plan on traveling the country this year, especially down south and to the west coast where the weather is nicer and I feel like my kind of people are. I would not say I am running away from anything, rather in search of a greater appreciation for this life. I think it is a beautiful thing what Couchsurfing is doing, and I am glad to see what it can offer me.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• reading
• hiking
• film
• longboarding
• vlogging
• going to the movies

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
I am really into the classics, but anything and everything written by J. D. Salinger, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, and Franz Kafka I enjoy the most. I am also a firm believer in the practice of Daoism, so stuff like the Tao of Pooh and anything written by Solala Towler are gold to me. The last really good book I have read was Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes; very moving and unique story. I am currently reading a book written by a local to the midwest, Pastaman by Paul Teodo.

Movies:
I went to school for film, so I would consider myself a huge film buff. Any films made by Charlie Kaufman, David Lynch, Richard Linklater, Jim Jarmusch, Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Caurón, Gaspar Noé, Yorgos Lanthimos, etc. etc. have inspired me a bunch. But my favorite directors of all time have to be Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman. To check out my favorite films and some reviews I've written go to https://letterboxd.com/dickless1der/

Music:
Like everyone else, my music taste is all over the place. I am mainly a Rock kind of guy. At one point you could have called me the biggest Beatles fan ever with a Lennon Obsession. The 60s and 70s sound of music is probably my favorite with its simplicity. My favorite rock album of all time is The Who's Tommy. But to be more modern, I would say my taste falls into the Warped Tour category, so bands like Angels & Airwaves (Blink-182), Never Shout Never, and Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. As long as there is heart to the art, I can always find something I love about it. That goes for books and movies as well.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good company is one thing I can offer. Along with some simple tasks if needed like running errands or working on something around the house. It is the least I can do for giving me a place to stay and helping me on my journey.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Canada, England, France, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico