I am an adventuresome and young minded recently retired teacher who enjoys traveling and meeting new people. I 've traveled to all 48 lower United States, 10 European countries, 6 Caribbean islands and 6 Central American countries. I am most familiar with Costa Rica, Belize, many regions of France, Aruba, Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore and the Canadian Rockies. In the USA I'm most familiar with Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, northern Utah, Colorado, Lake Tahoe California / Nevada, Florida and northern New Mexico.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have enjoyed traveling this beautiful world in many formats, including
chaperoning high school student exchanges to France,
concert touring Europe,
family vacationing across the USA and Canada,
whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies, Fiji, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica,
scuba diving the Caribbean Islands, Fiji , Tioman Island Malaysia, Bocas del Toro Panama, Belize and Great Barrier Reef,
backpacking New Mexico and Grand Canyon,
windsurfing midwestern lakes and Belize coastline,
canoeing northern Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes,
sailing northern Michigan's beautiful lakes in my small four person day sailboat,
and chasing monkeys and chomping through many national parks in Costa Rica!

I hope to be able to share some of the experiences and wisdom I've gained from having been fortunate enough to have been exposed to this rich selection of humanity.

In the not too distant future I would like to host couch surfers at my home.

Interests

I enjoy almost all kinds of people, places, activities and adventures. I'm a Renaissance kind of guy, good at many things but not outstanding in any one thing. Life is an adventure if you chose to make it that way! People who value traveling and are open-minded to meet new kinds of people are a pleasure to be with, and you can learn much from them. Life is so much more than accumulating or spending money, and every day well spent is a treasure.

I enjoy windsurfing, scuba diving, downhill skiing, playing pool, sailing, talking, playing board or card games, swimming, and just having fun with all kinds of people.

• arts
• concerts
• wine
• beer
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• billiards
• trumpet
• backpacking
• canoeing
• windsurfing
• whitewater rafting
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• sailing
• skiing
• swimming
• teaching
• history
• mathematics
• science
• parks
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Jazz rock with good trumpet lines, The Planets by Gustav Holst,
Jazz of Maynard Ferguson, Bill Chase, Don Ellis, Blood Sweat and Tears

Classic 60s 70s 80s rock, Drum and Bugle Corps shows

War movies, adventure movies, movies based on real events

History and science magazines or books, travel magazines or books.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I covered myself with peanut butter and jumped into a pool of cooked noodles wearing a Noodleman cape in front of 20,000 people in Milwaukee! This happened at the formula one race car time trials. While covered with noodles I ran into AJ Foyt and Mario Andretti walking out of the pit area! I won a $4000 sapphire for being the most outrageous contestant in the radio station's Outrageous Contest!

Also in February 2015, while snorkeling on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, I found myself surrounded by thousands of stinging young jellyfish. I had to dive underwater and swim several hundred yards to get away from them. A local Tico later explained to me that I'd ended up in the middle of a colony that would eventually form into a dangerously poisonous Portugese Man o' War!

Also successfully convinced my four drunk naked coed friends to get dressed and leave the swimming pool in Aruba after the night security guard politely kicked us out.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught fifth and third grade students in Lake Forest north suburban Chicago for 33 years 1980 -2013
Taught math, English, US history, ancient history, all kinds of science, reading and much more. I also taught fifth / sixth grade art for four years!
Became eagle scout in 1974.
Played lead trumpet in high school.
Striped yellow parking lines on hundreds of parking lots , factories and playgrounds throughout southern Wisconsin in college years.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A hundred stories and photos of my travels, a cold dark beer or glass of wine, laughter and good times, a few games of pool and a dip in the ocean!

I can also give some downhill skiing and scuba diving tips, as well as travel advice.

Countries I’ve Visited

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin (French part), Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States