CURRENT MISSION: Living happily; I enjoy life. Luis (Abby) is sometimes here with me.

ABOUT ME: I/We enjoy conversation with fascinating people of diverse backgrounds.

I retired June 28, 2024 giving me more time to visit, travel, etc. I went on an US East Coast road trip from July - November 2024. https://dapr48.blogspot.com/2024/06/blog-post.html

National Park Pass 2025. Tentative plan......
March 5-26 Southern California National Parks. Fly to Las Vegas, obtain Rental car and visit the following parks in 3 weeks. Looking for companions.

Red Rock Canyon
Mojave Desert
Joshua Tree
Pinnacles
Yosemite
Sequoia
Kings Canyon
Death Valley

I am tentatively planning another 3-4 week trip in the Pacific NW for late April into May.

When I first Joined CS in 2008, CS recommended using an Alias or Nickname rather than our real name...:) Sockburner, Sock = Dennis. PLEASE acknowledge this in your request.

PHILOSOPHY

I Regularly meditate or practice mindfulness. I accept all rather than subscribe to any one belief; there are many paths.

I try employing The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz, as best as I can to many situations...
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Avoid Taking Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Rather than Making Assumptions,
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I/We enjoy visitors in our home and to our fine city. We have so much to offer. We will try to show you what, where, when, etc.

Join me/us in Breaking down the walls that divide us begins with understanding each other's culture. We invite people from everywhere to visit with us so that we keep tearing down that wall. ;) We are 1 human race that need to accept each other for what we are. And I REALLY, sincerely, genuinely enjoy learning about all of the different cultures...

I/We have hosted people from the following places:
Austria, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechia, Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, France, Ghana, Germany, Illinois, India, Iowa, Kansas, Kenya, Michigan, New York, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam

I/We have surfed Couches in the following places:
Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Spain, Switzerland, Washington, DC.

Interests

Traveling as much as possible in the US, since, I let my passport lapse.

Movie Night is underrated. We have Cable with on demand movies, HBOMax, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Paramount+ and Netflix. Let's have some drinks, prepare a meal together, enjoy conversation, maybe take a walk in the neighborhood or on the River Walk then watch a movie.

Tampa's downtown is flourishing. The Bayshore and Riverwalk are wonderful. There are bike rentals, scooter rentals, boat rentals, SUP rentals, etc.

• cooking
• coffee
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• volunteer work
• hiking
• racquetball
• volunteering
• nature
• biking
• mindfulness
• bicycling
• bicycle touring
• bicicle
• bicycle
• sunsets
• sunrise
• bicycles
• gayfriendly
• dinner
• bicicleta
• nature walks
• bicicletas
• hiking in nature
• cooking and baking
• bicicletta
• conocer gente
• hiking,
• bicycle riding
• cooking and eating
• lgbtq
• bicyling
• hiking mountains
• cooking with friends
• hiking in the mountains
• cooking together
• bicyle
• bicycle tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

action, funny, something that will keep my attention.
After seeing Les Miserable on stage, I procured a copy of the book. I enjoyed reading the detailed description of memorable scenes from the stage/movie in the book
I generally enjoy reading the classics, historical fiction.....I usually fall asleep reading.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked up an active volcano caldera, Vulcan Pacaya, in Guatemala, with flowing lava!!! WOW!!

Teach, Learn, Share

Bicycling, Racquetball, Excel, PowerPoint, planning and organizing.
I/We both enjoy hiking/walking, especially in the mountains.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Sites in Tampa, suggestions for travel, e.g. parks, walks, hikes, drives. recreation, etc.

Welcome to Tampa. Surfers constantly ask me for things to see and do... Here are a few website that may help

- https://www.visittampabay.com/
- Follow link to 20 cheap things under $20. https://www.unation.com/stuff-to-do/things-to-do-in-tampa-bay-for-under-20/?fbclid=IwAR1z6fEF8wK0uAdkQ_VjP3UI4vSWCqVPmjQoGE42R_zS0sU7Ok74ohCf5tQ

Here are some suggestions: Ybor City, Yuengling Brewery Tour, Riverwalk, Armature Works at The Heights, Waterworks Park, The Florida Aquarium, Bush Gardens, Zoo Tampa, etc. I like parks and outdoor activities. The Riverwalk has bike rentals and scooter rentals. Bayshore Blvd, Picnic Island Park, Gadsden Park, Ballast Point Park, Cypress Point Park, Al Lopez Park, Lettuce Lake Park, Manatee viewing center at TECO. Kayaking on the Hillsborough River or in Wheeden Island. There is also some boat rentals on the Riverwalk.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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