CURRENT MISSION

I'm currently floating around Europe, first stop Spain! I hope to see as much as I can, though. Couch surfing will help me accomplish more.

ABOUT ME

I'm a bit of a dreamer; always planning some big move, whether a small business venture or some adventure out in the wild. I'm also a constant optimist as I don't let things bother me and always assume success is inevitable. But I'm a little wild and a little romantic, always plunging in to things head first because the prospect is too enticing not to.

PHILOSOPHY

I am of the mindset that life should not be taken too seriously. In my viewpoint, there are few things in life (short of terminal illness) that are worth stressing over, especially the unchangeable. I am a very social animal, and while I don't get along with everyone, I certainly try; the world is too small to create enemies willfully. Though I don't always agree, I listen to any intelligent viewpoint and consider it with respect.

I think of the world as a feast for the senses. However, I realize that coming from the U.S. I am extremely priveledged, so I do my utmost to respect that fact when traveling through less fortunate areas. Put simply, I don't treat less developed countries like my personal playground, and their inhabitants like my servants.

I don't think we are on this world to suffer, I think it is meant to be enjoyed and shared, and I intend to pursue it to that end.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have been signed up on Couchsurfing for years now and am hoping to finally break the seal and surf a little bit in Europe.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I haven't had any official Couchsurfing experiences yet as I'm slightly nervous to get my first one out of the way, but I have on many occasions stayed on couches in various friends and acquantainces homes throughout the U.S. and abroad.

I have had occasion to meet up with fellow couch surfers while on the road and have met some amazing people that I hope will be lifetime friends!

Interests

Having been a die-hard city boy for the last decade, I've had a sort of outdoor renaissance in the last couple of years. While watching movies, socializing, eating and drinking well, and running around the concrete jungles are still activities I enjoy, I find I'm more drawn to an active outdoor lifestyle. Back home I enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, surfing (though I'm fairly horrible at it), snowboarding, running (trail running, preferably), trekking, as well as road trips of any variety, but being on two wheels makes me happiest. I still enjoy watching movies, but I'm reading more than ever. I love meeting new people, seeing new viewpoints, learning about religions, hearing stories, telling and being told jokes, laughing, and relaxing with others.

Music, Movies, and Books

I like a big crosssection of entertainment. I like foreign movies with subtitles and big blockbusters chock full of explosions and CGI. I read quite a bit and am getting back into fiction after a few years of strictly non-fiction reading. Musically, I enjoy everything shy of modern country music and hardcore rap and metal. I also try and avoid Top 40 stuff.

Amongst my favorite movies are: Gattaca, The Girl on the Bridge, Behind the Sun, Inception, The Fall, Wristcutters: A Love Story, How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog, The Thin Red Line, In Bruge, Before the Sunset, Ondine, Blade Runner, Beginners, City of Lost Children, Zombieland, the new (Chrisopher Nolan) Batman trilogy, Traffic, The Game, Seven Years in Tibet, anything by Wes Anderson, Constantine...the list goes on.

Books: Islands in the Stream, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway's Short Stories, Tesla: Man Out of Time, The Social Animal, Freakonomics, Hughes, Papa Hemingway, Siddhartha, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dune, Moonwalking With Einstein, The Twilight Series (just kidding).

Music: Grizzly Bear, Florence and the Machine, Bon Iver, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Elbow, My Morning Jacket, RJD2, Danger Mouse, Adele, Cat Power, Ray LaMontagne, Arcade Fire, Teagan and Sara, The Black Keys, The Heavy, Likki Li, The XX, Mumford and Sons, Joan as Police Woman, Cee Lo, Tapes n' Tapes, Citizen Cope, pretty much anything Tarantino has ever put on a soundtrack, James Brown, Otis Redding, Radiohead, to name a few.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

That's a tough one... While I'm just now starting to get back into serious traveling after a decade of short trips, I have been privileged enough to see some fantastic things.

I guess the big one is that I've hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. 2,700 miles through California, Oregon and Washington States.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm all about languages. I speak Spanish and I hope to learn a few languages more over the next few years. Spanish is a second language for me, but I enjoy teaching others what I know (which is a fraction of what I hope to learn). I also have quite a bit of knowledge on music and movies and love sharing those that I have found worthwhile. Also, I am a bartender, so I can mix an alright drink, I suppose. I can show you how to make some delicious bevvies to show off at your next party.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A respectful guest with a lot of stories, passion for life, and a talent for making friends. And drinks. And making friends drinks.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Singapore, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States