CURRENT MISSION

To return the many kindnesses that have been shown to me

ABOUT ME

Like many people who choose to be a part of this great CS community I have the soul of a wanderer. I like nothing more than to walk and explore different parts of the world and meet friends along the way. I like to refer to myself as a natural introvert who is able to appreciate the joy that comes from being around people. I've been fortunate enough to have enjoyed the benefits of CS both as a host and as a traveler and I'm looking forward to even more experiences in the future.

Currently I'm about to start an 8-month train/walking journey around the periphery of the US and back again leading up to my 40th birthday in September.

PHILOSOPHY

I don't have a personal philosophy, so maybe I'll come up with one on the spot: "Material goods are no substitute for rewarding human relationships". Not too catchy, but it captures much of what I believe.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've participated in Couchsurfing both as a traveler and a host. Both have been very rewarding. I can truly say that I haven't had a single negative experience with someone I met via this site. I hope to be an active member of this community for as long as it exists.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have had a wonderful experience with Couchsurfing since joining this community in 2009. I've had periods where I was primarily a surfer and others where I was primarily hosting. I've enjoyed both a great deal and met nothing but wonderful people. I tend to be a bit of a proselytizer for this site when I meet people who don't know of it. I just think it taps into something that is essentially beautiful about the human spirit.

Interests

Softball, tennis, theater (both musical and dramatic), walking, literature, self deprecating humor, minimalism, smiling ... and too many others to list.

• literature
• theater
• walking
• socializing
• minimalism
• music
• classical music
• tennis
• softball

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: East of Eden (for the complexity of human nature), Jitterbug Perfume (for the pleasure of the written word), a Lesson before Dying (for the endurance of the human spirit) and Confederacy of Dunces (for a great laugh)

TV: The Wire (for a story as good as any novel, without ever having to read)

Music: The Lyrics to the Pretender by Jackson Browne. Or just enjoying the voice of Bonnie Raitt.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sitting atop Table Mountain in Cape Town and looking out over the ocean where the Atlantic & Indian Oceans meet.

Walking from Albany, NY to New Orleans, LA in 2009 and staying in 104 different homes and apartments along the way was an amazing experience in the abundance of hospitality across this country.

Listening to classical music at an old estate in the South of France with my father in the summer of 2003 while the moon rose low on the horizon is a wonderful memory.

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