CURRENT MISSION

To figure out the next move in life.

ABOUT ME

I've been backpacking for a while. What started as a hobby turned into a full time obsession with seeing new things. I've been through South America, SE Asia, spent over a year in India, and have been to various places in Europe.

I like to ride motorcycles.

PHILOSOPHY

Well, as far as I can figure, all humans have a sense of self. But this sense of self is merely an idea or concept which our brains make us have. The idea is this: "I am a separate self, and I want things to be this way or that way."

In all likelihood, selfhood is imaginary, an illusion, etc. This might make me a Buddhist, but I don't want to get all caught up on labels. I try to dissolve my sense of self. Progress is slow, but hopefully steady.

In the meantime, I try not to harm others, and I try not to harm myself by getting upset, or angry, or petty, or jealous, and so on.

Kurt Vonnegut says it better:

“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've only couch surfed a couple of times so far, but I met one of my best friends through couch surfing. We have traveled a lot together since first meeting.

Interests

I like to immerse myself in strong experiences. I like to write. I like to figure things out if I can. I like puzzles. Life is a puzzle sometimes.

I'm interested in just about everything for a short while. I guess I like novelty.

I'm interested in philosophy; the search for and all encompassing answer to life. Such an answer may not exist. I think I can accept that, but I still like the process of searching sometimes.

I love science, though I've never been formally educated in any of its disciplines. If you are a proud science nerd, we need to hang out.

• motorcycles
• puzzles
• cycling
• backpacking
• surfing
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Anything Vonnegut. Charles Dickens is good but long. Walden is an annual read.

I love pop-psych, pop-sci, and behavioral economics (Gladwell, Kahneman, John Gribbin, Steven Pinker, lots more)

I binge on TED talks for entire weekends.

I love documentaries!

The Fog of War changed my life.

If you don't cry when watching Tyson, you're made of steel. He's a beautiful human being, flaws and all.

Exit Through the Gift Shop was hysterical

Also amazing:
The King of Kong: A fist full of quarters, Harlen County USA, Brothers Keeper, Life in a Day, Dances with wolves, LoTr, Seven Years in Tibet, many more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lake Titicaca is the most visually stunning place I have ever been. Some of the islands on the lake dont see many tourists, so the locals are quite genuine. Sitting atop an ancient temple on Isla Amantini, surrounded by sapphire blue water, low hanging clouds, and the Andean range certainly left an impression.

I lived with a shaman in the Amazon for a few months. That got pretty amazing.

I took a big motorcycle trip around SE Asia and India. Shipped the bike to Germany and rode to Scotland, where I sold the bike. 35,000km in 18 months.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Costa Rica, France, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Italy, Laos, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States