I live on a boat I built myself! It is a 10 meter motor cruiser, fully self-sufficient with everything on board. I live totally off-grid, generate my own power and purify my own water, and yes, it’s even comfortable through the winter - with a shower, running water and central heating for air and water. You can see pictures in the photos tab if you’re curious! You’ll also see my camper van (I only built the interior on that) which has also been involved in some fun Couchsurfing trips! In other words - if you want to go on a preposterous trip somewhere, by land or by sea, I’m the right guy to know :)

About me: I like making and fixing things! Everything from boats to antique violins to computer programs to beds, tables, counters, phones, robots, drones, calculators, you name it. Even if it's substantially cheaper to buy something new or throw it away, I'd much rather fix it, or if that's not possible build my own.

Aside from that, I like a huge range of stuff, from backcountry hiking to fiddling to woodworking. I really enjoy working with my hands, music (all sorts), and going to unusual places. Rooftops, secret tunnels, "secure areas" of all sorts, abandoned buildings, places in nature far from humanity, you get the idea. Some things I like: playing the violin, national parks, cooking, flannel, fire, flying, driving, kayaking, swimming, teaching people stuff, photography, history, reading about weird shit on the Internet, riding the train, nighttime, being alive!

I host parties on my boat from time to time. No two are the same - some are crazy partying with loud music and cocktails till the sunrise, some are sitting around with some good conversation and fine wine. If you want to know the next one, or help plan one, message me! Bonus points if you show up in a unique outfit or bring snacks/drinks, but don’t feel the need!

If you want to stay with me, please read the “my home” section first! (it’s next to “About” and “Photos” at the top of the page.)

Interests

• books
• poetry
• photography
• dancing
• cooking
• gardening
• traveling
• woodworking
• music
• violin
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• sports
• rowing
• biology
• languages
• hitchhiking
• art
• nature
• stargazing
• plants
• driving
• smiling
• welding
• fiddle
• thrift stores
• writing letters
• swimming in the sea
• stopping to smell the flowers
• stopping to eat the flowers
• stopping to eat the cacti
• slowly realizing the cactus you ate is poisonous
• yes that actually did happen and somehow i lived
• wow you can write anything here huh
• help i'm trapped in a tag factory

Music, Movies, and Books

All kinds of stuff! A sampling: Dizzy Gillespie, Cigarettes After Sex, Dire Straits, Vulfpeck, Portugal. The Man, Tennis, Miles Davis, Alvvays, The National, Darlingside, The Beatles, Arcade Fire, Art Tatum, The Killers, TV Girl, Journey, Simon and Garfunkel, The Shins, Metric, Phoebe Bridgers, Green Day, Elgar, Satie, Journey, Kishi Bashi, Alvvays, Blaze Foley. Please share your favorite songs, I love to hear new music!

Books: lots... Gödel, Escher, Bach/Hofstadter - Vor series/Bujold - Misc. Hemingway/Márquez, Name of the Rose, some DFW... you name it

Movies: Being John Malkovich, Cronenberg (The Fly, Videodrome, Crimes of the Future), Airplane!, Wall-E, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Week-end and French new wave in general

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Traveling through Iran and Ukraine was one of the most interesting experiences of my life! I got tickets less than 24 hours in advance when I found a very cheap flight. I experienced so many unique and fascinating things, from hiking in the mountains to learning a bit of setar. I was invited into so many homes and everyone was so kind, I really enjoyed it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Whatever's needed! Need to borrow a jacket, a jigsaw, a jar of peanut butter? Go ahead!

I have a huge collection of power tools that you're free to borrow if you'd like.

I typically also have a spare bike that you may use if you'd like.

I can lend guests pretty much anything - a violin, a bike, an inflatable boat, a power drill... Whatever you need. Furthermore, if you travel with me, you get a huge discount on the train. I am also an expert at finding the cheapest tickets. If you plan on traveling at all with Dutch or Belgian trains or buses, please let me know, I can save you a ton of money! I have discount codes you can use for everything from Flixbuses to French trains :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Armenia, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United States