Just one amazing thing I have seen or done in my lifetime? Back in 1994, I traveled solo around the world for 10 months visiting 12 countries.

https://radio.adelaide.edu.au/couchsurfing/ https://rentafriend.com/ WorkAway - work 5 hours per day in exchange for food and accommodation. Some hosts may give a paid allowance to ensure they are offering at least the minimum wage in their country. https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF88952/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friend Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. - John Wooden Volunteer teaching conversational English in exchange for room and board in Europe. www.diverbo.com www.angloville.com www.Helpx.net organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, BnBs, backpackers hostels and sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation warmshowers.org (for cyclists) NOTE: One can car camp in Cabella's sporting stores, Home Depot + Lowe's hardware stores, and Cracker Barrel restaurants, for free, 1 night at a time. It's best to seek permission from a manager. freecycle.org happyvagabonds.com workamper.jobs One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. "The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." ---------------------------------------- “If not us, who? If not now, when?” John F. Kennedy ---- "Accept it, change it, or walk away." ----- "Look for the pattern." ---- Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny - Frank Outlaw ------------ “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go! --- "Care about people's approval, and you will be their prisoner." -Lao Tzu http://www.tuifly.com/farefinder/bestoffers?culture=en-GB&airportListOrigin= www.skyscanner.com CS ADVICE As you may realize, people use CS for different reasons. Many of us who have been members for a while tend to use CouchSurfing to connect with people either while traveling or hosting where we live. Typically, one offers a night of surfing on the couch or spare bed. Usually, conversation over dinner helps people get to know each other better. Fewer hosts offer their couches for a week or more. Some people like myself can not open their homes to others but choose to show them the area, attend events together, answer their questions, and offer advice. It is general practice to review people's profiles before seeking a couch. The personal message indicating why your host might enjoy your company is then sent. Less common is a CS host simply offering a free place for someone to stay. The typical host is trying to connect to a person. The reference system helps people learn more about you and also determines trust. The more you interact with people, the more references you collect. CS could be about getting a "cheaper than a hostel" place to stay, but for the most part, it's about people connecting with each other and their community. ======================== Theodore Roosevelt once said about the man in the arena, "whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is not effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievements and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly."

Did I mention I am a storyteller and artist? Besides that, I have made meals, painted rooms / fences, house sat, organized homes, assisted with yard sales, mowed lawns, and more. I mailed gift packs to my hosts. I try to find a meaningful gift for guests as well. This is the story behind CouchSurfing: "The idea got its start when Casey Fenton impulsively booked a flight to Iceland because of a cheap online airfare and then realized that he didn’t know anyone there and had no idea what to do there. So he found a list of email addresses for students at the University of Iceland in Rejkevik and sent out emails asking if he could crash with them on their couches. He got lots of invitations and had a fantastic weekend with utter strangers. When he got home, Fenton and 3 friends created a website to try to systematize the idea. The result was “Couchsurfing,” a new way of meeting people while traveling while enjoying free lodging. People register online and provide some information about themselves. They can either offer a place for other registered Couchsurfers to stay or explore available couches in selected cities. There are many groups and event pages, so it's not all about sleeping over. The site charges for helping arrange the connections. It expressly forbids hosts from charging their guests (upon penalty of expulsion from the site’s registry). Call it semi-organized gift exchange. It’s a Web-assisted gift economy for travelers that thrives simply because people are basically good and enjoy meeting strangers from other places as well as locals. Couchsurfers understand that they are not just getting a free bed; there is an implied social contract that they will spend some time eating or drinking or touring the city with the host. Some hosts take visitors to parties or tourist sites, and others just meet them for a chat. Sleeping arrangements vary from a shared bed to a private guest house."

Enjoy animals, easy hikes, cliff jumping, studying, teaching, museums, outdoors, movies (no horror), "talking story", art, walking, Pickelball and volunteering most everywhere. I enjoy cooking and gardening with others. Pet sitting is a great joy.