I work as a psychotherapist (currently about halfway through the 3000 hours that I need for clinical licensure), and I bartend on the side. I moved to New York City in February 2021, to be closer to my sister's family and some old friends. My sister has since moved back to California (we grew up just north of San Francisco), but I like it here, and I plan on being here for the foreseeable future. I traveled a lot in my early twenties, but work and shifting priorities make it a little harder to do now. I'd like to pay forward some of the assistance I received when I was living out of a backpack, and I have a great apartment in a city that many people want to visit.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've had some pretty magical experiences as a guest, and hosting is a way to bring the world to my door when I'm not in a position to travel. When I was a kid my parents had a lot of visitors through an organization called Servas International (this was before couchsurfing and airbnb existed), and I loved it. I don't have any big travel plans on the horizon, but I want to feel more connected to the wide world, and hosting is a good way to do that.

Interests

In my free time I like to read, paint, write, play piano (badly), go for long walks, and explore the strange and beautiful place that is NYC. I'm pretty social, and I have a few close friends here whom I see often.

• writing
• running
• painting
• drawing
• cycling

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: all over the map, but mostly jazz, classical, soul, some hip hop, rock. Really depends on my mood.
I don't watch movies very often.
I like to read fantasy and sci-fi, and some nonfiction.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bike tour from Santa Cruz, California to Guanajuato, Mexico. About 3200km over the course of two months. It's my favorite way to travel. Food never tastes so good, and you never sleep so well as at the end of a full day of riding. You get to see the world in greater detail when you're moving at a human pace, and not enclosed in a vehicle. People are generally curious and supportive when they learn that you're traveling by bicycle, and I was repeatedly amazed at the kindness of strangers. It's also incredibly difficult, but so worth it.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can show you some beautiful parts of New York, and am generally a good person to talk to about big life questions. I have lots of useless skills, and if you're interested and patient, I can teach you to juggle and balance things. Work and other responsibilities permitting, I'm willing to be a pretty active host and spend time together, but I'm also happy to just offer a place to stay and you can explore the city on your own.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, cooking, ability to fix random things, and inside perspective on the strange phenomenon that is American culture.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States