CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy life and loved ones!

ABOUT ME

I've been a reader and a do-er all my life. Grew up on north shore of Long Island; love water: swimming and boating. Played lots of sports as a youngster. Still ski and do yoga. I count more life in my years, not years in my life! I have four children, including 17-yr-old twins still at home, two daughters-in-law, one of whom had a son on Aug. 5. I've just retired from Florida Atlantic University and am completing a move to Berkeley CA.

PHILOSOPHY

My personal philosophy is never putting anyone else down to get yourself up! I really believe in sharing. I like to respect and honor the rest of the great net of life. People say I am upbeat, thoughtful, kind, open, creative, aware, and very caring. I am also pretty far left politically.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love to travel. Have been as far east as Moscow and Athens, lived in Warsaw, Poland, for a year; far south as Ghana and Costa Rica, and hoping to go further South soon; far west as Shanghai, China, and still planning a trip around the world, but have to get totally moved in to our "new" home in Berkeley, CA

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Neophite! Got first request for this weekend. Also tried to send first request, but I think my computer choked on it.

Interests

People, family history and stories, travel, music (played even if badly piano, banjo,violin, viola, and guitar, and singing) art (esp. drawing and watercolor), writing, antiques, hiking, sewing, remodeling, learning and laughing. Taught American Literature with specialties in the Transcendentalists, 19th-century (and earlier) Women Writers,and African-American Lit., with an American Studies (history and culture) focus. I value working with my hands.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• literature
• singing
• yoga
• running
• boating
• traveling
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• piano
• violin
• hiking
• skiing
• sports
• swimming
• history
• law
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

How can I even begin this? I love movies, music, books; I'm very curious about MANY things--esp. STORIES. That's why I became a literature professor, a writer, a poet, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

At age 19, I dropped out of college to hitchhike alone around Europe (1966-1967). This was the most amazing experience. I've also gone from a trailer park to a professorate, with several jobs in between like running a Psychiatric Ward for teenagers, being a science/medical writer, getting the PhD later in life.

Teach, Learn, Share

YES! I'll get to specifics later. I've taught university for 27 years. I've continued learning from the wide world and my students and friends. I love to share meals, my home, hospitality, and can talk about a lot of book-knowledge. . . but don't believe that is the only kind!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Poland, United States

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