I have a passion for traveling because I want to see the world! I want to experience other cultures and the more I see the more I want to see! I have traveled to over 65 countries now. My favorite part is meeting new friends and learning about their culture and discovering the things we have in common and learning about the things we don't. I love that I have made friends all over the world! I am returning to visit friends in Thailand in between Tokyo and Hong Kong! Then last year when traveling through Peru I met a lady and her daughter and stayed with her in Rio for Carnival. When I return home from this next trip her daughter is coming to live with me and go to school for 6 months! It is like the whole world opens up when you travel. I absolutely love this sight and my fellow travelers! (Nov. 2017)

CURRENT MISSION

to see all the countries I have not seen yet.

ABOUT ME

I have a passion for seeing the world. I have been to every state in the US except Alaska. I have traveled through Europe with a backpack, using trains and hostels. My favorite part of hostels was meeting other travelers and hearing their experiences. I have never heard of couch surfing until today. I think it is a marvelous idea! I always go the path of the local rather than the tourists, because I find it more truthful and educational. (May 2012)

PHILOSOPHY

Life is too short, live in the moment, appreciate what you have, love to the fullest and dance like nobody is watching. It is up to you to make your day turn out like you want. Choose to be happy and always be your best.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
(2012)
I just finished hosting a Brazilian girl and we had a very nice time. Took her up in the mountains and to some of the small towns up there. Next day visited the swap meet, since she had never seen one!
(2013)
Stayed in Tampa with a wonderful gentleman while attending the Republican National Conference. Had a great time and he was a perfect host!

(Nov 2015) was suppose to stay with someone in Panama City but they didn't show up!
I now have international true friends who are welcome in my home anytime!

(2019) Traveled to New York city. Spent time there with a guy that advertised he was a nudist and if I would stay there nude it was free otherwise $30 a night. LOL! I paid $30 a night. He was a nice person even though it was a bit scary what he had offered.

(2020) Stayed in Hawaii for one night with an oriental couple. Barely saw them except for about 3 minutes, but it was a very nice place.

(2017) Went to Tokyo and stayed 3 different places , each for 2 nights so I would not overstay my welcome. Very nice people who are welcome in my home anytime!

(2017) Went to Hong Kong and stayed with Ray and his 10 year old daughter. Very nice man ! He had a lot of references and enjoyed hosting. He worked so he had little time but we went to eat and he was able to point me in the right direction, where to go! Spent New Years with 4 couch surfing people through the app to connect and had a blast!

COUCH SURFING EXPERIENCE

I have had 9 experiences, as I said above, that were unofficial ...one time in Whales I arrived too late to get a room or hostel. I didn't plan ahead and there was a huge convention that weekend and everything was full. I met someone at the bus depot and offered him 50 to stay on his couch. He gave me his room at his grandmothers, to which I was very grateful.

Interests

If I had to put myself in a category it would probably be a hippie! I care about the earth, love all animals and want people to wake up and see why the world is in the state it is in. Love is a different vibration and we could be living in that vibration all the time if people would learn how to love better and hate less.My passion is travel, I love my dog, Samuel Taylor, I enjoy cooking if it is for more than just me. I try to stay healthy by eating healthy, most of the time) and going to the gym often. I am a landlord of a sober living, which is for addicts and alcoholics, in recovery from their addiction. I love treasure hunting for great things at yard sales, boot sales, estate sales, auctions, etc... When I go to Europe I can always find great items at their swap meets , mail it home and sell it on eBay. I can usually pay for the entire trip with the profit I can make! I am a female solo traveler and prefer it to be so most of the time. Traveling alone gives more opportunity to open up and meet people. It makes making decisions easier as well.
LIKES:
traveling the world!!
thrift stores
movie hopping
all animals
hang-gliding
para-sailing
cruises ships
dancing
sunny days
strange towns
estate sales
full refrigerators
rain
having the right tools
sound of the waves
new lipstick
the smell of aftershave
long hair
laughing
blackjack
area 51 video game
deep tan
oak trees
smell of cut grass
rhinestone jewelry
girly stuff
dressing up
dancing
Mountain Dew
pasta
crystal chandeliers
stand up comedians
live theater
Nickelback
crafts
jewelry making
The Eagles
yard sales
scuba diving
horseback riding
spray paint art (not graffiti)
making films
wandering aimlessly in strange towns
music of all kinds
first time experiences
having my doors opened for me
new clothes
working out at the gym
$100 bills
technology
chocolate with raspberries
picking up seashells
something to do
someone to love
something to look forward to

DISLIKES
dry humor
loud and obnoxious behavior
liars and thieves
sardines
my feet
liver and onions
waiting in lines
drunks
being put on hold
phone operators with foreign accents

• dogs
• books
• dancing
• gardening
• politics
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• backpacking
• law
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Brave Heart, Shaw-shank Redemption, The Green Mile, Titanic, One Flew Over the Coo coos Nest, The King and I, anything political and all music

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was in the Miss America Pageant in 1977 representing Colorado. It was an amazing experience and an eventful year as Miss Colorado. I won the swimsuit and talent award at the state pageant and the talent award at the Miss America Pageant.

Not amazing but interesting...I went piranha fishing in the Ecuador Amazon, spelunking in Hungry, volunteered with the elephants in Thailand, hang gliding in Rio, Brazil, paragliding in Lima, Peru, scuba diving in the Bahamas, sand-boarding in Ecuador, and white rafting on the way to Manchu Picchu.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am starving for knowledge and love to learn. As I experience other countries and cultures I just want to see more! Learn more! Share more! I just got back from my first time in Asia and this time I wrote a travel journal in a blog with pictures. I always keep a journal of the trips and pictures but never had them published online before. (Sept 2014).
Update 2017:
I am ready to go back to Asia in 3 days. Going to Thailand to an elephant sanctuary to help take care of the elephants. I will visit Tokyo first the Hong Kong after! I will be couch surfing in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have traveled over 60 countries and all of the USA. I have great stories! I am also a drug and alcohol counselor and every family knows or has someone who has a problem with addiction. The world has been infiltrated with it and I have some good advice and counseling in me. I also wrote a book called From Pageants to Prison, soon to be published. At the least, I will take them to dinner!

I am couch surfing, not because I can't afford a hotel. Being a solo female traveler, it is harder to meet people, because you have to be careful. Couch surfing gives me a way to pre-meet them and establish some knowledge about them before I get there. Also visa versa, that is why you are reading this right now! To find out more about me. If you are my friend, that means something to me . Not like the 5000 friends I have on Facebook, most of whom I have never met! Friends in other countries is like a whole different bond among travelers. You will be welcome in my home always, and if I return to your country I am certain I will see you again!

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Macao, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Panama, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French part), Scotland, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S., Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States