CURRENT MISSION

To visit old friends and my sons on the Big Island....they say its kinda pardisical....

ABOUT ME

I am a very positive person, it has been said in jest that I may have too much serotonin. I believe much of this attitude comes from my upbringing and wonderful parents. I have an active curiosity, not only about the world and the places and people in it, but in my professional life I have made some things happen which make the world a better place...this happens because I pick a path and follow it toward its reward.

My life is often filled with activities that combine the active outdoor life I have here in the Pacific Northwest with strong social connections. For example, taking a mountain bike ride with friends, getting a great workout while enjoying the experience with my friends during and after is my idea of a perfect day.

My friends say I am always up to something, meaning I have a lot of interests. The world is full of brilliant people, just visit TED.com to see what I mean. I now have a friend who has given a TED talk, perhaps I will some day.

Responsible, trustworthy, clean and, well I don't know about reverent in the conventional sense. I have been a homeowner myself for 23 years in the Mt. Tabor area of Portland so understand the love and care a home takes and what being a good neighbor means. I would be happy to host, but am currently in transition so cannot do so yet.

PHILOSOPHY

My attitude has so much to do with the outcome of my experiences. Every day a new opportunity for growth, connection and excitement. This is especially so as I have entered a period when I can live a bit more for myself and have the freedom to pursue what I want. This does not mean being self-centered just able to make my own decisions, follow my heart.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

This is new to me, but my friends and sons have great reviews of the whole thing. I also want to experience some of what they have. My sons have moved to farm land in Kohala and I really want to get a sense of their future life, yet it would be great to not have to camp out to do so. Been enjoying the Big Island and its people very much so far!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None. My experience with travel has been fairly conventional until now, with yearly family vacations often abroad. However, we often have not connected on a local level with folks who make these places their home, this is something I want to change on this trip. So far I have been doing work/stays on farms and guest houses in South Kona and loving the experience.

兴趣

I worked in the environmental field for many years, starting out with my own consulting practice but also working with small to large firms. After a long a difficult road, I now am in a semi retired mode, I am using what I have learned to direct investor funds into projects that support my definition of sustainability, with an emphasis on better food production, resource use, energy and community building. So, first off my work is very important to me and strongly engages me.

I am an "integrator" meaning my creative, professional, leisure, travel and musical worlds are combined every day in an exciting mix I can of course never predict. I am very active physically, and when I am in town, playing basketball is a common way to stay in shape and connected with good people....I have played fairly competitively now for over 40 years and I am so happy my body still seems to love this! Portland is a great place for outdoor activity of course and I like most all the human-powered things that lie out my door: hiking, climbing, biking, skiing, whitewater, etc.

Music has been a great part of my life too. After years of singing and playing acoustic, rock, blues, etc. in bands and solo, I heard a Brazilian guitarist and made that style the one I wanted to pursue. I have played in a choro band now for about 8 years, though I have recently left the group but sit in on occasion. I have a thousand tunes in my head and play mostly by ear, love nearly all styles.

• singing
• environment
• dining
• news
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• blues
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• skiing
• basketball
• rock climbing
• swimming
• mountains

音乐、电影和书籍

The film Cabaret one of my favorites over the years, a perfect historical story including a love story and of course great music.

Angle of Repose, I am writing a book of my Croatian grandfather's life based in part on the inspiration of this Wallace Stegner book.

Pat Metheny a huge favorite of mine, several Brasilian players, Greg Brown, Donny Hathaway, Joshua Redman, Thelonius Monk, Stevie Wonder, and a ton of newer people my sons have turned me onto....

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Standing on top of Half Dome in Yosemite a few years ago....this is quite the day hike, 16 miles and five thousand feet of elevation gain. What a place to be and something I have meant to do for years. I have spend a lot of time in the high altitude Yosemite back country which is fabulous. I recall waking up at an alpine lake for the first time as a 12 year old kid and have loved wilderness ever since. Can recall several "peak" experiences literally on top of some great mountains, that sticks with me.

Swimming with the dolphins in Kona!

Sitting on the deck of our oceanside place in Troncones Mexico with my wife and sons... the sound of thundering waves, visiting with people from all over, making our own simple meals, warm sun and water, and being taken care of by a Mexican man who was wonderful.

Playing traditional Brasilian choro music for a big group of friends and others at a nightspot in Portland. Having them sing along and appreciate our music that reminds them of home, the feeling of soldade that is uniquely Brasilian.

教，学，和分享

Many years of music playing under my belt, I love to share it. The instrument becomes a perfect extension of you. I learned so much just by asking a friend who is a jazz player, it got a lot more interesting after that.

One reason I am in the Big Island is to learn more about permaculture and sustainable practices in a tropical environment. How do we best use natural systems and organisms doing what they do naturally in order to make the whole system work?

As a life long body surfer, I have to admit I have never stood on a board and enjoyed the wave from above...I am pretty athletic though, can you show me how?

Hard to say what I want to learn in other areas, you just never know until the conversation with someone news begins....

我游览过的国家

Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, United States

我居住过的国家

United States