CURRENT MISSION

After the loss of a soul very dear to me, I am leaving life as I know it behind & riding my motorcycle xcountry, seeing friends, family and meeting new folks. All while serving and meditating at Vipassana centers across the US.

ABOUT ME

I have lived all over this country, and have worked all sorts of jobs. I have been a park ranger, a carpenter, produce wharehouse manager, field instructor at a adolescent wilderness therapy program, and currently am the outdoor director/mentor for a young adult recovery program in southern OR. I love to read books, meditate daily, explore the natural wonders of this earth, enjoy a good cup of coffee (hey I been living in the northwest for 6 years now, gotta love the coffee and the IPA). I do my best to only help people out and live my life according to the Dhamma. I recently have found that I have given more of myself to my students and am feeling burnout on my chosen career and need to take some time for myself. I can't imagine working another job that doesn't help people see the truth of their reality and get their live's back in control. Recognizing that I am getting burntout is the hardest reality I have had to face in my career. I need to get my life back in order to continue to help others do the same.

PHILOSOPHY

Live in the moment, see the beauty and love in all, and be grateful for the wonderful gift of life, for you never know when the ride will end. Be kind to everyone and help as often as possible.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Currently just surfing, but when I stop moving and have a place, I plan to host and pay it forward.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm new here so not many couchsurfing stories aside from friends crashing on my couch. My home has always been open to them and once I settle down again I plan on opening my home to those of you here. The closest couchsurfing experience I have had myself was in 2004. My buddy and I drove from CO to WA to see The Dead play at The Gorge. Both of us had never been to the northwest before and were looking forward to exploring it. We overheard the folks camping next to us at the show talking about not having any bread, we had just hit the store and had a whole to loaf so we offered them some. We spent the rest of the day hanging out and they invited us to their home after the show up in the San Juan Islands. Amazingly beautiful area and people as well. We all had so much fun that my buddy and I stayed with them for the next week while they showed around the islands. We ended up spending nearly all of our time that we had with them.

Interests

Vipassana meditation, the search for the truth, yoga, reading, tattoos, riding motorcycles, helping people, giving back, photography, meeting new people and seeing new places.

• books
• photography
• beauty
• tattoos
• coffee
• yoga
• instructor
• meditation
• motorcycles
• reading
• outdoor activities
• camping
• surfing

Music, Movies, and Books

Way to many books and music to list! Tho here is just a few; love bluegrass, good political hip-hop with a postive message to it, Akron Family, Michael Franti, Railroad Earth, Grateful Dead, Avett Bros, Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, and so on! Pretty much like any music with a good beat and lyrics, tho not to into rap and country. Books: Love to read!! Wide variety here as well. Buddhist books, spirituality, Tom Robbins, Lama Sury Das, Thict Nant Hahn, Jonathon Livingston Seagull, trying to read more of the classics, and so on.No TV please.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My most recent amazing experience was an up close encounter with a black bear. I was leading a group of students down the Lost Coast Trail in CA and woke up in the middle of the night with a black bear about 3 feet from me giving me the stare down. We hung out with each other for about 5 minutes before he decided I was to interesting to eat. :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I love learning just about anything! We are never to old to continue to educate ourselves. As far as teaching, well... I can teach you how to start a fire by rubbing 2 sticks together! Oh yeah and I have some mad pumpkin carving skills.