CURRENT MISSION
Travel the world, live in new places, meet new people, and have a shitload of fun doing so.

ABOUT ME
I spend as much time traveling as I can, and I haven't regretted any of it (save for a couple hundred stolen Euros, a broken bone here or there, and a couple of vicious hangovers). California born and raised, I have a laid-back perspective on life, family, and friends, and endless drive when it comes to work and gaining knowledge.

PHILOSOPHY
Moderation in all things, especially moderation.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
Though I have stayed on many a friend's couch, and let many friends stay on my own, I've never formally signed up here until recently. In lieu of reviews, I'll toss a couple of tidbits regarding my habits as a potential guest: I'm considerate of personal space, cleanly, willing to help out around your place, and can quite confidently promise you some good conversation. Also, I'm pretty skilled in the kitchen; I'll cook for you if you'll have me.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
I had two Norwegian exchange students in high school, both of whom couchsurfed several times and had wonderful experiences. I signed up to get in on the fun and help out when I'm not traveling.

Interests

I read heaps of books, exercise like it's a part-time job, and eat like it's a full time job. Mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, and music (singing + digital production)

Music, Movies, and Books

Authors: Kundera, Aquinas, Chaucer, Shakespeare, London, Vonnegut, Gibran, Chesterton, Conrad, Tolkien, and a whole lot more than I can list here.

Music: Go on hypem.com. Follow username willshaw.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was motoring in the Whitsunday Islands in Southern Australia, and had to shut off the engines (per Aussie law) because we spotted whales 100 or so meters away. They disappeared after some time, and as I was sitting on the bow looking for them, I saw a shadow that seemed to dwarf our boat rising from beneath us. It was a massive whale, probably 15 meters long.

It surfaced on its side, and with its dinner-plate sized eye no more than 2 meters away from my own eyes, it stared back at me for over a minute. This wasn't necessarily something that I did - it was something that happened to me. The amazing thing was the amount of emotion and life that I saw in this strange creature's eye.

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH + LEARN
- Impromptu cooking skills (good food from random ingredients)
- Writing (technical or creative)
- Literature (specifically medieval English and French, as well as 19th c. British)
- History (again, Medieval English and French)
- San Francisco commercial real estate & real estate finance
- Digital music production (beatmaking, composition, sound engineering, and songwriting)
- Ukelele
- Singing
- Graphic design