CURRENT MISSION

To avoid 'normal'

ABOUT ME

Throughout my life I've been fortunate enough to do the things I've really wanted to, all while being generally free from the burdens society places upon me as an American. 'Playing the game,' I call our American norms and maxims, and I am fortunate to live outside of them for the most part. I feel like I truly am 'living the dream' and I am true to myself, whether I'm hitchhiking through the desert, working taking travelers on road trips across the USA, canoeing the Mississippi River, guiding people through Yellowstone National Park in the winter, or simply not working for 8 months. Five months is the most time I've spent in one spot the past 10 years and for now I imagine it will remain the case at least the next couple years. The past several summers I have worked taking foreign travelers on road trips across the USA and Canada in fifteen passenger vans. I get paid to show off some of the most beautiful places in the world and feel very fortunate to have a job that keeps me on the road and in the lifestyle I want live. Some years I work 9 months and some years I work 4 months, however much I want. Sometimes it is hard to find community and routine in my life, but it is worth it for the true freedom that I have. My travel styles have certainly adapted over the years and I have little interest in ticking off lists, seeing sights, or trying to cram too much into one trip. When I was younger I moved a little faster and now I prefer to slow things down, get to know one region in more depth, and to do more adventure style trips. Long hitchhiking, hiking, and canoeing trips hold much of my interest now instead of just straight backpacking like I did many times when I was younger. And despite having to plan meticulously for my job, my desire to plan anything is fairly reticent and love the organic fashion in which life presents itself to me. I also try to live as environmentally friendly as possible and in my off seasons love traveling off the grid when I can, hitchhiking, dumpster diving, and simply avoiding contributing to consumerism.

PHILOSOPHY

Above all else, have the courage to live the life you want and not the life others expect of you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've mainly surfed since I've been on the website since I simply have been on the road or unable to host. Once I finally have the capacity to host (who knows when that will be) I'm super keen to start returning some favors.

Unfortunately I have been virtually inactive on Couchsurfing the last few years. While working I am busy all day every day and on the road (with my accommodation provided per my contract - not that I would have time for even any CS meetups) - in my off seasons I have been doing a variety of things (sometimes work, sometimes play) that simply have kept me away from the couchsurfing community. I would like to re-explore this amazing community sometime soon...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Interests

Everything. Notably though, (I don't really need to write traveling - it is my life), all wildlife (Any day I see a new species is a great day), all things nature, playing all sports (particularly basketball and ultimate frisbee), hiking, camping, canoeing, photography, gardening (though I never have the chance to do any...), hitchhiking, stealth camping, dumpster diving, learning what I can do with no money, video games, reading, scuba diving, board games (especially Agricola), alternative lifestyles, and cooking meals from whatever leftovers and food I find laying around.

• wildlife
• theater
• photography
• cooking
• gardening
• video games
• reading
• traveling
• dumpster diving
• hiking
• canoeing
• camping
• scuba diving
• sports
• basketball
• hitchhiking
• road trips

Music, Movies, and Books

Rudy- that movie is amazing. Forrest Gump and the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars Trilogies are pretty high up there also...

I'm not always great at choosing favorites... Reflections from the North Country by Sigurd Olson is one of my favorite books. Check it out if you're a nature lover. Shantaram is another favorite.

Classic Rock is my favorite genre of music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I am fortunate enough to have been doing amazing things my entire adult life but will keep this list short:

Traveled New Zealand for 2 months without spending a cent.

Hitchhiked with anyone from your average Joe to business professionals, local hillbillies predicting the doomsday, high school kids, ex-porn stars, families with newborn babies, ranchers, grandmas, and ex-cons - have been shown amazing hospitality and some of my fondest memories find me hopping on the back of a tractor to ride into town or crammed in the back of a pickup truck with several others flying down the highway looking at stars - If you're willing to put yourself out there and commit to a long hitching trip it WILL be an amazing experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

If anyone wants to know how to travel cheaply, I'm the person to ask. Also, I'm quite proficient at hitchhiking and dumpster diving and could give some advice. I'm very connected with seasonal work lifestyles and jobs all over the place. And I'm an expert at goldeneye for n64 if anyone wants to learn how to beat all the levels on 007 agent and get all the cheat codes, which I'm guessing everyone does.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, Fiji, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Antarctica, Australia, United States