I spent a couple of years traveling around the world with a bicycle following my retirement from an NGO job in Rotterdam, Holland that I had for twenty-six years. By an interesting coincidence, this retirement occurred at the same time as a housing redevelopment on the block where I lived, which meant I had to move and this put me on the road. I finally wound up moving back to the place I had in Cambridge, Massachusetts before I took the job in Holland, but it's too cold for me there in the winter so I rent it out and travel south for a couple of months then. Last year I was in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, while this year (2020) it's Costa Rica. Aside from habitually cycling (I've never taken an Uber), I usually swim every day, and this along with always trying to eat well has kept me in pretty good shape for my age. I used to be pretty musical, writing songs and playing piano and guitar and such, but bad hearing has curtailed this though I still run a Music Trivia Game on Facebook. I'm largely just relaxing and enjoying my retirement, amusing myself with cryptic crosswords, cryptograms, sudoku, and learning Portuguese in preparation for spending next winter in Brazil.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've been using Airbnb almost exclusively when I travel (see reviews of me as an Airbnb guest at https://www.airbnb.com/users/reviews?review_id=24629947), as fairly inexpensive rooms are generally available and I don't have to wait for an acceptance that may or may not come. The Couchsurfing idea has nonetheless always attracted me, and it seems to present an attractive and more personal alternative to b&bs and hotels.

Interests

I was very lucky to be able to turn a hobby of mine, Esperanto, into a full-time international career. I still enjoy various contacts and activities in relation to this language, and my travel itineraries have often been very influenced by where the Esperantists are, as it's always a pleasure meeting and chatting with them in our language. No matter where I am, I'll normally do email and Internet in the morning and then go out biking and/or swimming in the afternoon.

Music, Movies, and Books

When Mozart was asked about his favorite music, he said it was his own and I'm kind of the same way. I can and do enjoy anything that's good, however, though I do particularly like Americana music and happy movies. As for books, I'm largely open to whatever someone shoves in front of me – put a good one in my hands and I'll read it – or that stands out to me on a bookshelf.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Playing piano with Chuck Berry in Boston. Or, less cosmic but a bit wackier, playing piano with the Kingsmen on Louie Louie Day in Portland, Oregon (http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/06/louie_louie_sing-a-long_rocks.html).

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm happy to help anyone with their English, though I prefer teaching Esperanto since it's regular and easy. I have fairly adequate conversational Spanish and am not making any particular effort to improve in that regard – though I will certainly need help with Portuguese if I go to Brazil.

What I Can Share with Hosts

People generally find me to be an interesting conversationalist, and I've lived through interesting times in interesting places and so have numerous stories to tell. Sometimes I enjoy singing for people some of the songs I've written, a couple of which were on radio and TV and one of which won an international prize.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Laos, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United States