CURRENT MISSION

Taking time to honor my interests.

ABOUT ME

Currently in City Planning for small Central Valley CA cities. Love the field, and to drop into a city and just find my way around. Want to go to Vietnam and/or Cuba sometime soon, now that we all can. Love to cook. Would like to take a week long bike trip, maybe down Hwy 1(Big Sur, etc) if I can do the cardio challenge that would entail. Have started rock climbing locally with folks who really know what they are doing, the only way to do it at this stage in life! Have lived in WI, MN, NC, GA, Switzerland, and now CA.

PHILOSOPHY

It is to welcome the challenges, and be open to new people and experiences. We all may have less time than you think, and boy, will I be pissed if my time runs out and I have not learned to cook a really decent meal over a campfire or learned to surf, or at least tried it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

A newbie-but have had a lot of friendly advice and encouragement, and my first experiences were very positive. Did similar stuff as a young adult, amazing how it all works out when you let it, it is just when you get older you become more closed to experiences in general, and fearful of change.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Like pushing a giant Reset button, which is great.

Interests

Interesting architecture, non-fiction reading, good ethnic restaurants, big cities, small towns that work (and why, most importantly), the Big California Outdoors, economic development, food systems, alternative energy (with a smile, not a lot of grousing about how Big Oil has done this or that, no matter how true), music. Lately it is less "news" and more music. Finding your physical strength again. Learning to honor your life-long interests. Spending time with my sons, 21 and 24. Spending time in the great and wild CA outdoors.

• architecture
• dining
• cooking
• news
• reading
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• camping
• rock climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

Non-fiction more and more, I find it inspiring, vs. some fiction, which can be depressingly self-indulgent. My music taste varies widely, from jazz to 1980s disco, (still the best dancing music), older R & B to even some newer stuff that my kids listen to. Still like to hear live music here and there, but I do go to bed earlier these days. Need to see The Big Lebowski about every other year, but like many of the old classics, too.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Worked in a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border in 1980. It was such a lesson from a geopolitical perspective, and also working with the UN was interesting, as well as meeting the professional aid workers. The refugees themselves, those who spoke English, had unbelievable stories to tell.

Teach, Learn, Share

Beekeeping, know just enough to get in trouble (answer: find a good mentor). Rock climbing, from the old pros. Whitewater Raft guides, amazing folks. Mostly like to learn from others. Americans don't do enough mentoring, must be that can-do individualist attitude. Making a good curry.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Honey from my hives. A decent meal, or at least your favorite local takeout. Good conversation. Respect for your early bedtime.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Switzerland, United States

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