CURRENT MISSION

Explore myself by exploring the world.

ABOUT ME

My name is Bryan Wirthlin. I am 25 years old and I am currently on tour for the second time heading south down Highway 101 in Southern Oregon heading to San Diego and then maybe on east to Bradenton Florida. This trip is unique in that I am purposely trying out as many jobs as I can in order to find out what I'm good at and what I like to do. I was inspired after doing a work exchange involving construction that I didn't think I would like, but ended up enjoying immensely. And I was good at it. It made me wonder what other kind of work I might both enjoy and be good at that I simply haven't explored yet. That being said, I am particularly interested in staying with hosts willing to teach their trade or skill.

So far I've done a lot of construction projects, worked at a hostel, tutored high school English, web site design HTML and CSS, performed card magic as an evening entertainer at a cool bar in Berlin Germany, I have also dabbled in personal training and nutrition, massage therapy, and apprenticed at a primitive survival school.

Actual paid jobs I have held include serving in the US Navy, being an Emergency Medical Technician in Kentucky, a Certified Nurse Aide in a behavioral health nursing home in Washington State, and I was an owner operator truck driver for a year driving with PRIME INC. I have also earned coin by running an Ebay store, leading guided hikes in the woods, and playing Blackjack and online Poker, being a waiter in a steak house, and cooking for my father's catering business.

As you can see, I'm all over the place. But this doesn't mean that I am simply shallow and abandon projects. My blessing and my curse is that I have been successful in just about every endeavor I've put my mind to. While its a lot of fun to be good at so many things, it also makes it really hard to pinpoint the nexus point of "what do I enjoy doing, what could I be great at if I spent some time training in the discipline, and what do people need/ are willing to pay for?" I am searching for a trade or a skill or some kind of business to create that satisfies all three of those requirements and my journey is a journey of exploration and I would greatly appreciate the hospitality of someone interested in imparting their wisdom.

I am currently very interested in learning about organic farming and off the grid living. I'm also enrolled in an herbal correspondence course and hosting with an herbalist would rock hard. I've had a few sailing lessons and would love the chance to work on a boat again. I also really enjoy cooking and have thought about going to culinary school, so if any Chef's would like to impart some cooking wisdom I'd be very receptive.

I am also interested in studying martial arts and getting my certification in personal training. I speak tiny amounts of Spanish, German, French and Japanese.

SPECIAL THINGS TO KNOW!!

If it matters, I'm a triple Aries.

I'm great around children, mostly because I understand them. Children have the most Zen attitude and I wish I could be more like them.

While I do NOT own a dog, I love dogs. Especially big dogs you can roughhouse with. I'm partial to German Shepherds and Pit Bulls. Pit bulls get a bad rap; I've never met a violent Pit Bull that didn't have a more violent owner. Pit Bulls are some of the most playful dogs I've ever encountered. Look at that goofy dog smile. :-)

I eat mainly meat and veggies, but I absolutely love fruit. Apples are basically a desert item to me. I'm gluten, lactose, and soy intolerant and I'm always watching my sugar intake. Seriously, those foods take me down for days. In short, "protein and fat is where its at." I function best on "The Caveman diet" or the "Paleolithic diet." Half a chicken and a big ass salad makes Bryan a happy man.

I don't smoke cigarettes and I'm not a huge fan of mind altering substances. I like having my mind intact, especially when I have a job to do. That being said, I do enjoy some red wine at the end of a good days work and I'm not at all against marijuana, but I usually only indulge when the occasion is right and I feel that I've earned it somehow.

I enjoy hard work. The kind of work that sends a man to bed wet and tired. Meditation doesn't work very well for me, but I think way too much. The cure is to run the dog piss outta me till my body and mind are too fatigued to fight back.

I love knowledge and conversation especially about religion, economics, and politics.

IF it matters to you, here are my politics:

Religion: No preference myself, but I lean HEAVILY towards Zen, Buddhism and the eastern philosophies although the Greeks and Romans had a great thing going with Stoicism (and I do carry a copy of Seneca's Moral Letters to Lucilius), I find Stoicism plays very well with Eastern philosophy.

I'm OK with whatever religion you may have, provided we aren't 'locked in battle' of converting each other. I can't stand that.

Politics: My political position is closely aligned to Libertarian, AnarchoCapitalism, Voluntaryism.

Conservatives call me a Liberal.
Liberals call me a Conservative.
Probably because I say things that actually make sense. :-)

I value freedom and the free market. YOUR political opinions are your own and you are welcome to have them, provided we aren't 'locked in battle' trying to convince each other of the 'rightness' of our respective positions. I'm out here to work and explore, not run my mouth all day about things I really know anything about.

These conversations can be great fun, but lets not let it get out of hand. :-D

Outlook on life: I think we live in miraculous times! I truly feel that we are living in the golden age that mankind has been dreaming about since the days of ancient Greece. I'm a young man with a strong back and a strong willpower. I'm excited to see what comes in the years ahead and I'm ready to build my empire.

I am pretty blunt, but I'm also incredibly honest, maybe too honest, and I love a good debate and I am more than willing to change my mind about an issue provided you can make a rational argument.

You may or may not agree with things I say or think, but you'll always know you can trust me. And you'll never, ever wonder if I've stolen something, or deviated from my ethical standards.

I look forward to meeting you and learning whatever skills you would care to teach.

PHILOSOPHY

Concrete reality. Direct pointing.

All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Thus far, I'm using the site for what its for... couch surfing. I'd be glad to put someone up for the night if they're out my way, but good luck finding someone that runs through my small town. lol

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have never couchsurfed in all the time I've been a member. I should get on that. O.o

Interests

Cycling, travel, philosophy, economics, religion, politics, learning new skills, money, poker, farming, off the grid living, survival skills, cooking, etc etc.

• dogs
• arts
• design
• cooking
• wine
• red wine
• dieting
• running
• massage therapy
• meditation
• boating
• politics
• traveling
• magic
• survival
• poker
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• sailing
• skiing
• buddhist
• martial arts
• business
• economics
• mathematics
• nursing
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Instructional books, any music that has some fight to it, comedies have to be my favorite type of movie, though I'm too busy living to actually watch TV much anymore.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

OMG, so this one time in Dubai... I went skiing in the Middle east. This story is kind of a visual so... I'll tell you when I meet you.

And then again in Australia I got piss drunk and entered a poker tournament... Same drill. I like to pantamine when I tell stories.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teaching.

Im pretty good at math, financial planning, creating a budget. I'm good at finding things and getting things done and bringing that kind of high spirited energy out of people. I'm a motivating individual to be around when I'm in a good mood.

Learning.

French, new skills, hands on skills, web based skills, cooking, construction, farming, off grid living, whats not to learn?

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Djibouti, Germany, Kuwait, Singapore

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States