Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I quit my job and headed West in a fit of existential terror/ quarter life crisis. So now it’s just me, and my car, driving to Montana to go work on a bison ranch. Somehow I’ve decided to take the worlds least convoenieng route out there, though, and it’s going to take me through the south and into the southwest, and then northward. I’m trying to crash on friend’s floors where I can, or camp out of my car, but when that’s not possible I’m going to be relying on the kindness of strangers, and the softness of their couches.

Interests

Among other things, and not in any particular order:
Grateful Dead (as well as other music),
Reading (war novels, connected short story collections, fantasy),
Creative Writing,
DnD,
Biking,
Squash,
Sailing,
Guitar (Self taught, but not great)
Theology (although I'm not particularly religious),
Psychology (particularly ptsd and stress related disorders in veteran communities).
Video Games

• writing
• concerts
• partying
• movies
• video games
• reading
• painting
• music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• camping
• sailing
• racquetball
• divinity
• psychology
• squash

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Recently I've been on a Grateful Dead binge, but thats not all I listen to.
For the longest time my favorite band was The Decembrists.
I'm a fan of folk music like: Iron & Wine, Gregory Alan Isacov, Over the Rhine.
Which led me to Dark Americana, and Southern Gothic sounding bands like: Devil Makes Three, Shovels and Rope, Brown Bird.
From there I got pretty into the Blues, like: Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Reverend Gary Davis, Bo Diddley.
I'm also a big fan Tom Waits.
Apart from that, I'm really open minded, because good music is good music. I've got a bit of knowledge of a couple others but I don't want to bore you.

Movies:
I've got a soft spot for coming of age movies, because I guess I'm really just a big softy. Moonrise Kingdom, Kings of Summer, The Way Way Back.
I suppose there are too many to name, but I'll just rattle off a few:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Inside Llewyn Davis
House (the weird Japanese one, not the show)
Silver Linings Playbook
All of the Monty Python movies
Almost all of Miyazaki's movies
Holy Mountain

Books:
War Novels: "A farewell to Arms," "The Things They Carried," "All Quiet on the Western Front."
Inter-Connected Short Story Collections: My favorite book is "Jesus' Son," by Denis Johnson, and I’m working my way through his whole bibliography.
Fantasy: "The Name of the Wind" and "The King Killer Chronicles" might be my favorite series ever. I just finished the whole "Witcher series," which was also wonderful.
I've also read more than my fare share of Graphic Novels.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I graduated from my high school early and spent the rest of my senior year, living in Philidalphia, sleeping, and working aboard a 1912, three masted, square sailed, Brigantine Tall-ship called The Gazella. I spent most of the time rigging, re-decking, and re-painting the ship so that it would be in sailing condition for the high season. I then was a part of the crew as we sailed her down the coast from Philidalphia, Pensilvania to Norfolk Virginia. It was exhausting but very cool. I'm not sure if I could ever do it again though because I accidentally knocked the captain's ladder overboard and that was a whole thing.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've got the worlds scariest story that I'll tell you, but Honestly if thats the selling point of letting me stay with you then you will probably be disappointed.

I can Make the worlds greatest Chocolate Milk, but It involves a nutmeg, heavy cream, baking chocolate powder, and a couple other ingredients. If you've got all that, than we can party.

I've got a winning smile?

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Scotland, United States