I'm a husband and father, currently living in New Mexico.

I love nature, feel intimately connected with the various lifeforms with which humans share this planet, and am grateful for the overwhelming beauty of our universe.

I love people and believe that learning to be better at loving self and others is a good way to spend a human life.

I think that kindness is divine and that humility, open-mindedness and acceptance are pretty wonderful, too. Often not very good with these things, but doing my best.

I try to contribute something positive to the world, to constantly be learning about our world, our universe, and the mysterious, varied, miraculous experience of being a human being and being alive.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think it's just so much fun to meet new people, to learn about their lives, their experiences, and to learn from them. I find it beautiful to connect with strangers in this way. It feels like a step towards the more beautiful human world that I can partially make out in my imagination. I think that connecting with locals is a great way to travel. I think that hosting people from all over the world is a blessing in the midst of one's normal, sedentary life.

Couchsurfing experiences to date:

Surfed in:
Seoul, South Korea (x3)
Shanghai, China
Hong Kong
Denver, Colorado, USA (x2)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA
Burlington, Vermont, USA

Hosted from:
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Brazil
New Jersey, USA
Atalya, Turkey
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
Texas, USA
Yokohama, Japan
Missouri, USA
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Helsinki, Finland
Othello, Washington, USA

Interests

My daughters and my wife. Trying to be a good father and husband. Spending time in the non-human portions of the planet--hiking, camping, or just sitting. Learning about gratitude, empathy and forgiveness. Learning about our ridiculously fascinating world.

• documentaries
• civil rights
• human rights
• childrens rights
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• nature
• kindness
• parenting
• vegetarian cooking
• vegan cooking
• world peace
• intercultural exchange
• love animals
• inner peace

Music, Movies, and Books

I don't have too much time for books, etc. after parenting and work, but I do love to read, both fiction and non-fiction. I particularly enjoy science fiction and am also very interested in the increasing amount of 'non-fiction science fiction' in the news regarding AI, robots, and the future of mankind.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

To be honest, I feel that becoming a father is the most amazing thing I've done.

One of the most amazing things I've experienced was lava pouring into the ocean beneath a night sky covered in stars.

Teach, Learn, Share

No matter how heavily armed your opponent is, you can use the Art of Peace to disarm him. When someone comes in anger, greet him with a smile. That is the highest martial art. --Morihei Ueshiba

The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. --Albert Schweitzer

Or is it your reputation that's bothering you? But look at how soon we're all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of those applauding hands. The people who praise us; how capricious they are, how arbitrary. And the tiny region it takes place. The whole earth a point in space—and most of it uninhabited. --Marcus Aurelius

If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see. --Henry David Thoreau

Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, "Who are you?" --Khalil Gibran

What I Can Share with Hosts

I enjoy cooking and would be happy to prepare a meal for you. I also enjoy helping people plan, or dream about, or reflect upon, travels. I can be a good listener, too, and love to learn about people.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Japan, United States

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