CURRENT MISSION

I'm an empty nester (this means my daughter has left home!) and have a spare bedroom with a big bed. I'd like to offer it to travellers in exchange for their (I hope) fascinating stories. I plan to travel more in the future and hope to stay with new friends!

ABOUT ME

I'm a retired lawyer with two children. My daughter is in college in northern Arizona. My son lives with me part-time - he has autism and intellectual disabilities.
For many years I worked with families and children who were having problems (drugs, alcohol, poverty, abuse/neglect). I loved it for a long time until I could no longer bear the sadness. So I quit. I'm building a new lower-stress life, managing some apartments, trying to kick-start a community for people with disabilities, gardening, hanging out with friends (I didn't have time for friends when I was a lawyer!). I volunteer in my community (neighborhood assoc., politics, disability advocacy group). I hope to meet many new friends.

PHILOSOPHY

I think of myself as a moral person who follows her own heart, not the dictates of an established religion. I try to be kind to everyone in my world and expect the same in return. As I grow older I find I only have time for people who are genuinely kind - self-centered, selfish people of this world, no matter how interesting and exciting, should stay away!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

see above

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted one couple - they were great guests from Canada. I hosted a woman from the US three years ago - we are now good friends and we see one another twice a year now , once in Tucson and once at her home on the East coast!

Interests

People. The World. Politics. Gardening. Creating jewelry, sewing, doing mosaics. Cooking.

• cooking
• gardening
• politics
• traveling
• engineering
• law
• religion
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Independent movies with strong characters and plots, political thrillers, murder mysteries, idiotic comedies...pretty much anything musically (reggae, not rap), enjoy opera and classical, also classic rock....books, biographies, history, mysteries, thrillers, have just finished Martin's Dance with Dragons (you must read it - but first, read the other 4 novels) and am starting Goodkind's series which starts with Wizard's First Rule (All people are stupid).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The summer of 2010 I saw Venice for the first time - it looks just as Tiepolo painted it! even to the golden light.

Teach, Learn, Share

People who know something I don't, who may be expert in their field and willing to teach me something new (I'll be honest, I probably won't learn much about electrical engineering at this point but would like to learn more about throwing a pot, for example, or traveling in Butan.
I enjoy people with a passion for something, whatever that may be.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm an easy guest - sociable, helpful (I clean up after myself and am considered a good cook), and flexible. I do a lot of gardening (mostly vegetables and fruit trees) and am happy to do some weeding in your garden (or help you start one).

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Germany, Morocco