CURRENT MISSION

See more of the world, with an open mind, enthusiasm and compassion for everyone.

ABOUT ME

I'm a single American woman who loves to travel, get the inside scoop, off-the-beaten view of wherever I go, and meet people from all over the world. I have lost count of my careers. I have been an actress/singer, a professional dancer, a costume designer, a puppeteer, a novelist, a Tour Director for escorted group tours, a truck driver (yes really!), a secretary, a waitress, a cowboy boot designer and leather tooler, a webmaster, a newspaper journalist and editor, a freelance writer. I now make my living as an editor/writing coach, writer and book artist/bookbinder and teacher of book arts.
I'm pretty comfortable with people of any age, though I am not very hip to current youth culture. I am no longer much of a partier, though I still love to dance--especially salsa.
I am a meditator and a yoga student--fairly new at it but liking it a lot.
Although I grew up in California, I lived a good part of my adult life in New York City. I now live in San Miguel de Allende, in central Mexico, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I feel I have been blessed with a great gift to be able to live here.

PHILOSOPHY

I've been around long enough now to have really learned, in my soul, that this moment is all we have--all we will ever have. I love to plan/anticipate experiences, and I love to remember them, but my main goal now is to simply LIVE them, in the moment, with mindfulness and with compassion and kindness to everyone I encounter along the way.

I don't believe in a world of "us" vs. "them." There is only US, all of us, in this together.

Though I like to be comfortable and enjoy my home, I believe in the value of experience more than things, and will always prefer to spend my money on seeing, doing, experiencing rather than on buying and having.

I am a passionate believer in and fighter for social justice for all beings and equality in all things. I have a very liberal political viewpoint that says no one deserves to go hungry, or go untreated when they are sick, or be without a home, or not get an education.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

To begin, I will be looking for locals to hang out with when I travel in Europe this year. I likely will not need a couch, although it's possible for a few days in Amsterdam in October. Mostly, I want to meet people, have interesting conversations, and get inside information about how to spend my time.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Complete newbie. I will add more info here as I gain experience!

兴趣

Writing, book-making (binding), mixed media art, music, reading, flea marketing, spending time with friends.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• design
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• recipes
• yoga
• coach
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• communications
• teaching
• freelancing
• journalism
• tours

音乐、电影和书籍

Movies: Big costume dramas, romantic comedies, chick flicks, and just about anything that makes me think. Music: Most anything except hip-hop/rap. Being a child of the '60s, I especially love classic rock--Janis, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi, as well as '60s folk music. I like classical music and even some opera. I'm not real big on jazz, but I'm open to learning more about it.
Books - I will read just about anything and always have 2 or 3 books going at a time. I love biographies and well written history. I read a lot of current novels and also love mysteries and legal thrillers. I am a huge Jane Austen fan. My favorite book of the last couple years is Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Zafon.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

A trip to Michoacan, Mexico, to see the monarch butterfly migration left a lasting impression. Standing on a mountain, in a forest of tall pine trees covered in huge clumps of as many as 10 million orange-and-black butterflies, seeing thousands of them fluttering through the air in golden clouds, having them land on my head and hands and shoulders, was a spiritual moment for me.
Also, showing others the wonder of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon and other magical places int he American West was a great privilege.

教，学，和分享

I can teach simple book-binding techniques, great for making personal journals/art journals. I can also do simple editing/line editing. I'm a decent cook and like sharing recipes.

我游览过的国家

Aruba, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

我居住过的国家

Mexico, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States