CURRENT MISSION

to interact with people on a deep level/sing/experience art

ABOUT ME

My partner, Jere and I are enthusiastic. We love people. It's easy to see the good in people and we love their stories. Everyone has a story to tell and it is what makes us human and makes life worth living.
I have added Jere to my profile because, we travel together and he would most likely never couchsurf without me. There's always a first time, though. And if that comes to pass, I'll help him create his own profile! We get along very well together. Meeting later in life (early sixties to his early seventies), we really don't sweat the small stuff, and have a deep appreciation for one another.
I am hardworking, creative, talented, believe in honesty and am non judgemental as my parents successfully taught me the value and importance of tolerance. Same with Jere. Though he is retired as an editorial illustrator, he still paints pretty much every day, except when we're on the road. Then he indulges in his hobby of photography. Over the years he has become quite good. Jere Smith is on Facebook and regularly posts pics from our trips. His art site is jeresmith.com.
We are both thoughtful and adaptable, and like to help out. We are like two peas in a pod; observant, thoroughly enjoying the beauty around us, we are insightful and have an understanding of human dynamics. We value one on one interactions.
We have our quiet time as much as social interaction. For all my operatic vocal abilities, I shy away from dramatic, intense, social engagement or gossip. Jere calls himself shy, but asks the most intriguing questions of people!
We adore children and the elderly-and now WE'RE the elderly! We like building community and family wherever we are.

PHILOSOPHY

The world is so full of wonder. We're very thankful for what the world has to offer and accept the not so good things that have happened as well. People can change their behavior if they are truly motivated.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

The way I came to couch surfing was through my young friends and nephew. After my initial skepticism, I found it quite compelling. Even though I am older than many on the site, both Jere and I are young at heart. We love people of all ages. And being a performance artist and art car person makes me a different kind of person, people say.
This site is full of people who love to meet new people and exchange interesting stories and create them too! It sounds so simple really, being with people who enjoy life. It is my favorite part about my travels.
About four years ago I had a blast driving my newly painted art car to an art car parade in Trinidad Colorado. Who else would drive through four states to drive in a parade? cartists!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It was a little trial by fire in Italy and fabulous! My friend Ryan got me interested and excited about this new community and way to travel. I also went to Colorado-first big road trip with my art car, went on a trip to Pilot, Oregon visiting an old friend of Jere's, Greg. Greg and Jere went to third grade together. That's an old friend! We planned the couch surfing part in less than a week. Short notice! We spent a couple of days in the coming and going from Seattle, going down back roads and old highways, stopping to take pictures of and enjoy this beautiful countryside, one of our favorite activities.
It was Jere's first experience couch surfing. He couldn't believe it that people were opening up their homes ot us. It was a very positive experience for him and he's all on board now. We couch surfed in Yakima and Walla Walla.
We're going to Long Beach at the end of August for a couple of days. Get some beach walking in before the summer ends!

Interests

I am interested in just about everything. I have been known to spontaneously sing for people on the street, not to mention the impromptu extemporaneous birthday composition that comes out of my mouth. Jere is quite a singer too, but rarely sings in public.
I like to cook. I like to bake. I have baked a LOT of cakes in my life and the science of it all continues to intrigue me. Jere is mainly a grateful eater.
My father was an aerospace research scientist and I miss our talks about the universe but, I am able to still talk with my brother who has a degree in Astronomy. I have a great appreciation for the science and the heavens.
We both love visual art; going to museums and going to see public art and art galleries. I love playing with paper and calligraphy and letter writing. As I said earlier, Jere is still painting regularly. A dear friend is a letter press printer and that whole world is a bit of heaven on earth.
We often take long walks, watching birds, like classical chamber music, jazz and pop; like being exposed to all kinds of music.
We read a lot; Jere nonfiction, me quite eclectic in my tastes.
We laugh A LOT.
I love my work. I wear many hats! I am a housekeeper, gardener, garden designer, editor, nanny, singer, and performance artist. I am so lucky to work for wonderful amazing people in their own right, they appreciate me and what I do, I am in beautiful surroundings, outside a lot and think and create most of the hours in a day.
We're not big shoppers per se, but like unusual shopping in foreign countries or funky out of the way, off the wall unique experiences in shopping. Playing games is fun, especially made up word games.
We love the quirky, unusual sights, often pulling off the road for a pic. Love the ghost signs on the sides of old buildings. Any old sign actually.
I'm sure there is more but, I can't remember it right now. Oh, we like to swim...if it's really hot.

• birds
• writing
• books
• singing
• performing arts
• design
• photography
• acting
• coloring
• beauty
• cooking
• baking
• crafts
• gardening
• shopping
• flowers
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• hiking
• swimming
• astronomy
• calligraphy
• science
• mountains
• nature
• birdwatching
• painting,

Music, Movies, and Books

string quartets, Prokofiev, Peggy Lee, Chopin, Tina Richerson, jazz,
A Death In The Family by James Agee, The Goldfinch, Pinocchio, An Ordinary Man
I love movies and love to hear what your favorite is, there are so many I've never seen!
Recent likes: the books "Kitchen Confidential," "Wolf Hall," "The Night Swimmers," and movies "Eighth Grade," "Laurel and Hardy."

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1)I sang on top of Stromboli volcano.
2)Seeing the sun set behind the Oympic mountains with Puget Sound reflecting all the colors is something that happens at least once a year here if not once a month and it always leaves me awestruck. I never tire of it. It's the simple things, right? And yet, seeing a planet the size of the sun do what it does with color and shades of gray in conjunction with our land masses and body of water is not simple.
3)Seeing and hearing Portland Opera's Love of Three Oranges as well as seeing and hearing a Russian troupe perform at the Berlin Opera Prokofiev's rarely done opera "The Fiery Angel". Just writing about it brings back the image of the sculpture on the side of the set ever so slowly come to life and realize they were humans in head to toe white costuming.
4) I have to admit I am awestruck often in my day to day life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am happy to share my knowledge with others. My experience lay in many areas:
singing, opera, puppeteering, performance art, acting, drama coaching
gardening, garden design, pruning, flower arranging,
cleaning-yes, a lot of people don't really know how to do this!
writing, editing, creative marketing,
calligraphy, book making, paper crafts
baking, cooking
swimming

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation, An art Car on their street, laughter
Jere offers unique questions, laughter,
Good coffee from Seattle if you drink coffee
Maybe some artwork if you like that sort of thing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States