Hey everyone! It is now 2025, and I finally got around to reactivating my CS profile after ~7 years away due to various personal/life circumstances. I hosted several wonderful people back in 2017-2018 when I was living by myself in sunny Denver, Colorado and -- long story short -- in 2019 I met my incredible girlfriend Dani. We are currently living together in the Hudson Valley in Beacon, New York, USA.

It is truly an incredibly beautiful place removed from the hustle and bustle of NYC while still being right on the gorgeous Metro North train line that takes you on a picturesque ride into Grand Central Station in the heart of the city in about 90 minutes. It is no exaggeration to say that some of the absolute best hiking you will find in all of NY state is within minutes of our doorstep.

As someone who grew up in the smack-dab agricultural center of the USA; went to school in upstate NY; spent 5 years after college in Colorado, and ended up in the Hudson Valley of New York -- I absolutely adore where I live now. It is rich with history, culture, friendly people, nature, and a diverse array of great cuisine (incl. the Culinary Institute of America).

While the past several years we have had to focus on our careers and families, meeting new people from around the world with diverse upbringings and perspectives is something we find incredibly valuable and we are looking forward to start getting back into more.

AVAILABILITY: 1-3 nights per guest, depending on our schedules

LOCATION: Townhouse just north of Beacon, New York.

ACCOMMODATIONS : Your own bedroom with a queen mattress. You would also have your own bathroom. Ideal for 1-2 guests, but for the right situation could potentially accommodate 3 (with the 3rd sleeping on a cot or our couch on the main level).

ABOUT US

I (Ben) am an app developer by profession. Dani does surgery for a living as a surgical physician assistant. We both enjoy traveling to new places, meeting people from all walks of life, and experiencing a huge diversity of cultures and individual lifestyles. We are very open-minded, love to have a good time, and believe that many of life's greatest experiences arise from spontaneity.

Apart from our day jobs, we enjoy live music (there is amazing music both in the city as well as within 1-2 hours of our place in more rural settings), exploring the Northeast USA, and spending time just relaxing at home -- while we enjoy socializing, we lean a bit more introverted by nature, which is to say that we enjoy the comforts of home and need time to recover after a big night out.

Since I'm just getting back into Couchsurfing, we may not always be able to respond to everyone, and there may be times that we are not able to accept guests due to work, but nevertheless we still welcome you to reach out -- you never know! Our hope is that over time we can form new friendships that last years or even a lifetime!

PHILOSOPHY

I believe one of the most valuable things a person can remember is the transitory nature of life and Earth's tiny place in the universe. This knowledge serves as a constant reminder to not take life too seriously, but instead to spend it doing the things that inspire and excite the mind.

I also believe in exposing oneself to as many different cultures, people, lifestyles, opinions and ideas as possible -- challenging beliefs and assumptions; trying to understand why we think the way we think and why we do the things we do, and why other people think and do the things they do.

Furthermore, some of the best pieces of advice on life that I've ever come across are:

-Live the life that you want to live, not the life that society expects you to live.
-Learn something new and positive from every person you meet and place you visit.
-Remind yourself of how little you know, and use this fact to make a habit of constantly asking questions, and listening more than you speak.
-Don't be afraid to break the rules. The rules aren't always in your best interest.
-Everyone is fighting a battle of which you know nothing about.
-Be good to others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

All the people I've met so far have been nothing but friendly and fascinating.

Interests

Traveling and Culture
Meeting new people
Foreign Languages
Music/Concert-Going
Soccer
Self-Improvement
Creativity and Innovation
Lifestyle Design
Entrepreneurship/Startups
Running
Reading
Creative/Comedy Writing
Acting
Aviation
Kayaking
Cycling
Camping
Being inspired by people
Helping others through service
Food (both cooking and eating)
Photography
Artwork
Thinking

Music, Movies, and Books

Music (a selection):
**I'm very open-minded when it comes to discovering new artists and kinds of music. I would be STOKED if you introduced me to a new artist I end up loving (but even if I don't end up loving them, I'd still love you for sharing new music with me)**

Radiohead, Animal Collective, Tom Petty, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Parcels, Kendrick Lamar, Ray Lamontagne, Mason Jennings, Beirut, Ben Folds, Anderson .Paak, The Avett Brothers, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, Mishka, Jorge Ben, Xavier Rudd, Frank Turner, Daft Punk, ALO, Zach Deputy, Benjalu, Gorillaz, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Citizen Cope, Donavon Frankenreiter, Panda Bear, Avey Tare, Slightly Stoopid, The Tallest Man on Earth, The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, Alabama Shakes, G. Love, Kings of Convenience, Mumford and Sons, Local Natives, TV On the Radio, John Butler Trio, 311, Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, Kid Cudi, Queen, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, The Beatles, Newton Faulkner, Bahamas, MGMT, Lucky Boys Confusion, Incubus, O.A.R.

Movies (whichever movies I could think of off the top of my head in a few seconds):

The Planet Earth documentary series
The Ocean's series
The Bourne trilogy
Into the Wild

TV:

Planet Earth
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Breaking Bad (the genius of this show still blows my mind)
Alone
Parks and Rec
Ozark
Abstract
Chef's Table
Mad Men
The Office

Books:

anything by George Saunders

I'm always looking for new book recommendations that offer new perspectives on life. If you know of any incredible books I'd be eternally grateful if you shared them with me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Kayaking Milford Sound in New Zealand was the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring thing I've done. The spectacular mountains and glaciers. The penguins bathing in the teal-colored water. The seals swimming alongside the kayaks. The magnificent waterfalls. It was all so visually surreal that it felt like experiencing a completely different, utopian world you can only otherwise read in fiction or visit in your dreams.

Teach, Learn, Share

Things I want to learn about but currently know nothing about:
Architecture
Agriculture & Organic Farming
Cycling/Mountain Biking
Brewing
TV/Film/Video Production
Weightlifting
Graphic Design

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Haiti, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Russian Federation, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Peru, United States