I've been raised in ceremonies with my Miwok/Paiute culture in Yosemite/Mariposa. I feel extremely blessed to have had such a great upbringing in such a powerful place. I've graduated from UCSC with an Environmental/Economics degree. This was a huge accomplishment for me. I took the opportunity to study abroad in Aotearoa/New Zealand for a year so that I could learn about other Indigenous cultures and also see all the amazing flora and fauna.
I am a helper by nature. A good adventure in the city is always fun but I prefer the woods and the river. I live on a beautiful piece of property that my Dad, Paul Vasquez aka Double Rainbow Guy put into my name before he passed. My husband, Kevin is my better half and I feel eternally grateful to continually work on stewarding this land and grow our relationship and family.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to live a full, exciting life. I love having fun meeting new people and making friends as well as visiting old friends and making special trips to see best friends. I'm a hard worker and tend to put others before myself. Going with the flow, not being to structured but having goals is important. Be kind and respectful to others even if they aren't to you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Currently, we may feel inclined to host if you can offer help with our farm and work projects for a day. We like to get away too sometimes so we may be unable to host you. Please reply with your ideal time to stay and any offer of assistance/skills you may have. We have a camping trailer for guests and two large/medium dogs. No other dogs are allowed. If we host you, bringing food for sharing a meal is appreciated.

Interests

I enjoy backpacking, swimming in the river, and eating delicious food. Live music is nice. We enjoy adventuring but have had a hard time recently getting away as there is constant upkeep on our farm and our dogs are not the best travelers.

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently reading We Are The Land, and Kinship Series.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lived and studied in Santa Cruz, CA as well as on the South Island of New Zealand. Seen a kiwi under a full moon on Stewart island.

Lived and worked in Yellowstone National Park. A true wild place! Worked on building platforms next to geysers and drove up to one at sunset as it went off randomly 50ft into the air. Gaped at the colors of the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone and the tremendous waterfall falling through it.

Asked for lava to explode from Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica on NYE 2009 while watching with my friend Mariah after having spent the entire day in hott springs. I hear it hasn't been active in quite some time now.

Visited Western Samoa solo and loved the people, place and culture.

An amazing thing I've done is visit a marae(a Maori ceremonial house) with my mom who came and visited me in Kaikora, NZ and exchange cultural blessings/songs.

Another amazing thing I've done is arrive in Delhi the day before Deep Diwali. Lots of lights and sweets. I lite off mortars with friends and watched New Delhi fireworks for hours with a 360 degree view from a rooftop. This is the best holiday in the world! Also was fortunate to stay with two families outside Mumbai and be welcomed into their home and go on adventures on the back of motorbikes to national parks.

I've ridden an elephant in Mariposa, CA as well as in Thailand bareback.
Also ridden a camel and got lost in a camel fair on bhan lassi in Pushcar, India,
Travel to SF and whenever I go its always sunny even in winter. ha but now thanks to global warming its been super sunny and weird.

Fallen in love. Loved and been loved by family and friends.
Traveled to Brazil with my Dad via a Double Rainbow-being hosted by a Brazilian web conference.
Awed the Atacama desert and backpacked Patagonia with a now ex-boyfriend. Have seen Zion for a couple days with him wondering why I was there with him.

Visited Joshua Tree National Park with good friends during spring and experienced the magic of the dessert.
Attended Burning Man (2010 and 2012).
Was lucky enough to spend a weekend on a deserted island in Thailand with Peace Corps friends of friends and locals enjoying peace and good fun.
Attended my friends wedding in Koh Phayam Thailand along with a group of 30 other people from around the world.

Lived in my tent for two summer seasons in Cathedral Meadows, Yosemite National Park! Also lived in the valley and in the back country of Tuolumne Meadows. Started working in the park at 15 along side a legendary, wonderful woman and basket maker Julia Parker.

Riden to and from Mariposa to the East side of the sierras on my motorcycle. Ridden through thunder and lightning storms from Tenaya Lake to Tuolumne Meadows as lighting hit nearby peaks.
Hiked from tea house to tea house in Nepal. Went paragliding. I've been picked up in a limo in New Zealand to sky dive and before then sky dived in California. Bungeed in NZ. Jumped off waterfalls and from rocks into rivers and lakes.
Have seen the largest(Sequoia), tallest(Coastal Redwoods) and oldest trees(Ancient Bristle-cone Pines) in the world-all in California. Motorcycled around Maui with my Dad and Maui Moto Adventures!
Gone on amazing road trips with my boyfriend Kevin! Watched shooting stars fall across the sky while soaking in natural hot springs. Got lost on our way to a space party, climbing over peaks and enjoying the moon light. Explored cenotes and Mayan temples in the Yucatan. Camped at Semuc Champey and kayaked from our hotel in Flores, Guatemala. Hiked the Kalalau and hosted many friends at a time from our tiny Poipu condo.

Teach, Learn, Share

Always trust your gut and your heart! Be respectful to all living things and to yourself and kind to mother earth! I want to learn more about how things work. I'd also like to learn more about permaculture. I enjoy the taste of meat and also do not want to be disrespectful or miss the chance to eat something homemade and extremely tasty but I do feel sad about the amount of energy, pollution and waste in eating meat and flying/driving places. I aim to be conscious of my environment and the effects of my actions upon the earth and others both personally and culturally. I hope that I can share my positivism, kindness, and humor with those I meet.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A tent space or travel trailer on land with beautiful views.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Samoa, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Costa Rica, New Zealand, United States

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