CURRENT MISSION

Experiencing life in a peaceful and mindful way.

ABOUT ME

We are a couple of introverted, unashamed dreamers. We enjoy good conservation with good people. We like challenging ourselves with new experiences.

PHILOSOPHY

I pursue the practice of mindfulness and meditation. With people who disagree with me, I find the most pleasing response is the The Dude's philosophy of "that's, like, your opinion man."

I suppose my (Eric's) personal philosophy would be somewhat similar to Jackie's -- most importantly I want to continue to grow, and become fully aware of each moment.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We are currently recovering financially from our excursion to Europe last summer. We now offer our abode to fellow travelers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We were able to "officially" couchsurf twice on our trip to Europe last summer and it was awesome.

Interests

Jackie:
Main interests: writing, literature, cinema, theatre, meditation
Past experiences and sporadically pursued interests: Middle Eastern dance and drum, singing, acting/directing, hiking, biking, devil stick and contact ball juggling, wire jewelry making, snorkeling and scuba diving
Familiar but not remotely practiced at piano, guitar, violin. I have only months worth of experience in these. I couldn't entertain anybody but I appreciate greatly the beauty of these instruments and the skill that they require.
I dabble and am interested in a great many things.

Eric: I've been a reporter for the past five years, but recently quit my job to travel around Europe for two months this summer. What I'll do when we return is anybody's guess. I'm interested in writing, photography, music, literature, politics, journalism, Middle Eastern drumming and chess.

• writing
• literature
• singing
• design
• photography
• acting
• beauty
• dancing
• environment
• meditation
• politics
• movies
• chess
• traveling
• juggling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• violin
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• communications
• journalism
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Jackie: Some Movies--The Fountain, The Dark Knight, Elizabeth, Quills, Fight Club, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Big Labowski, 28 Days Later, Stranger Than Fiction, Amelie, Bug, Death Proof...and many more. Some Authors--Thich Nhat Hanh, Edgar Allen Poe, Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Parker, Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Joan Didion, Marcel Proust, James Baldwin, and many other short story writers.

Some Music--Loreena McKennitt, DeVotchka, Portishead, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Dresden Dolls, Mogwai, The Decemberists, God Speed You Black Emperor! Massive Attack, David Byrne, the National, LCD Soundsystem, Le Loup

Agreed! -Eric

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

While snorkeling in Moorea, Tahiti, I swam around coral and stirred a ray from where it was resting on the bottom. I glimpsed its wings and tail gliding as it disappeared into the billowing cloud of disheveled sand.
Montana-the hill of my uncle's 12-acre property is the most silent and spacious place I have ever known.
I've also jumped out of a plane and scuba dived with sharks. Both were in a more or less controlled environment but it makes me feel cool to say I did it.

Teach, Learn, Share

Jackie: I'm interested in learning many things. Things I can offer are beginning belly dance instruction, participate/lead small theatre endeavors. I'm interested in becoming TEFL certified and teaching English as a second language. Both my husband and I are interested in learning other languages. We're currently working on French.
Eric: Photography, writing, video, media, web design and finding a way to travel more often.

My husband and I are both excellent listeners.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States