CURRENT MISSION

To make the most of my retirement by keeping my fingernails dirty from gardening, hiking with hub and dog, and working on assorted projects.

ABOUT ME

I am easy going, light hearted, and look for the good in life. I care about making the world a better place; socially and environmentally. I'm liberal in my politics and respect people with lifestyles/religions different from my own - diversity is what keeps life interesting, fun.

I grow trees from seed, for the sole purpose of giving them away for free, just to help the earth and beautify my community at the same time. One of my pictures is of first-year seedlings in my garden (on the left) and a four year old seedling (right) in a recipient's yard. Planting trees in my own community may be one small step towards curbing global warming, but it is one of the few things -with tangible results- that one can actually do. That said, I'm also a fastidious recycler who thoroughly enjoys finding ways to repurpose things.

PHILOSOPHY

Live your life in a way that makes life easier, kinder, gentler for others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I enjoy the social interaction of CSing because I'm a "people person". When traveling internationally, I like the way CSing allows me to truly experience the local culture. When you stay in hotels, you see a place through a closed window. Staying in someone's home is the only way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Interests

I enjoy travel, international cultures, gardening, NPR, cooking healthy foods with ethnic influences (Indian is my favorite), music, audiobooks, planting trees, building things, thrift stores, being in nature (backpacking in desert canyons, biking, gentle water kayaking).

• arts
• causes
• cooking
• gardening
• thrifting
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• backpacking
• kayaking
• skiing
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Kate Price, Dark Moll, Solas, Enya, Yanni, Josh Ritter, Music: Debbie Friedman, Tinariwen, Chinmaya Dunster....
Movies - uplifting, fun: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Spanglish....
Documentaries: Searching for Sugarman, 20' From Stardom, Under African Skies...
Books about interesting people: Daughter of Persia, All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Mountains Beyond Mountains, Boys in the Boat, A Fifty Year Silence, In a Rocket Made of Ice....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Two things...
Backpacking in awe-inspiring remote places. I love the beauty, vastness, quiet. The world is a better place because wild places simply exist.
Living for almost 6 months out of the back of my truck, in Ireland, Scotland, northern England, and Northern Wales, not visiting tourist sites but hiking in places where the locals would hike.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can tell you how a stained glass window is made, how a sheet of glass is mouth blown, or what it's like to make your living from the arts. I'm good with a needle and thread. I'd be glad to mend that moth hole in your sweater ("jumper" to you Brits) or the split seam in your child's teddy bear - just ask.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Pleasant conversation about life experiences. I'm a good listener, I love to hear about other's adventures and day-to-day life.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States