CURRENT MISSION

To stay fresh and engaged in life and with people from all over the world.

ABOUT ME

I'm fairly well established career-wise and have the opportunity with my partner to host people as they travel through Toronto. I'm at a point where I'm looking outward to explore the world through travel and through the eyes of those who are travelling.

PHILOSOPHY

There are really exceptional people from all over the world, and they aren't necessarily the ones you read about in the newspaper. Everyone has an interesting story and history unfolding as I write this.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My partner (Don McCulloch) and I started hosting couch surfers in our home here in Toronto in March 2012. We have connected with a few people when we travel, and would like to do that more.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

For the most part, my partner and I have hosted people who have come to Toronto. We have had the opportunity to meet people while we were in Copenhagen and in Berlin. All together, a terrific set of experiences. I feel more engaged in my home city through these connections.

Interests

Travel, architecture, language, meeting people.

• architecture
• education
• dieting
• flying
• shopping
• traveling
• socializing
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm probably more open to different types of music now than I have ever been, but oddly, don't spend nearly as much time listening as I used to. I think I've come to realize that live music is probably the most appealing. It's not just the sound, it's the experience.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

More thought for this one too..... There have been so many that its hard to find one. As an example, I'll say taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Mostly for the experience of being airborne and looking straight down as we flew out over the abyss. Flying in a hot air balloon was a real trip as well. This sounds like an emerging theme. Maybe space some day.

Teach, Learn, Share

This is going to take some thought... Through the Couchsurfing experience, a number of people have commented that they are impressed by the way my partner (Don) and I lead by example. We follow a plant based diet, are active, travel mainly by foot or on bicycle, try to shop locally and follow a philosophy of sustainability whenever possible. Through all of that, I don't feel deprived. In fact I would say, life has become more enjoyable. But I would also say that the opportunity to host people from around the world has also been an education in the possibility of leading life differently than the norm. I am in awe of people who follow their inspirations to distant parts of the world, either for experience alone or to live.

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