I lived an interesting life thus far. Marine Corps at 19 and served for 8 years. Did one tour in Iraq as an Infantry Squad Leader. Have a Finance degree, and worked in that field for 7 years. Was very successful, but the whole "desk job" thing just wasn't for me. I'm currently working Industrial Construction as an Ironworker because the pay is great, and the job is flexible. My absolute favorite hobbies are hiking/backpacking and reading. My life has been an endless quest of good reads, and researching my next great backpacking trip.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I recently lost my dog, Trigger, a 12 year old Lab. Being a dog owner can limit what foreign travel you can do. Namely the duration of travel. Since losing my best bud, I recently had to admit to myself that I HAVE to travel the world. I don't want the typical comfort zone of nice hotels and the limitations they can cause in travel. I don't want to necessarily travel cheaply, I want to travel efficiently. Couchsurfing will of course help in both areas, but I'm not wanting to couchsurf because of the money issue. I think the whole idea behind it is brilliant! To meet someone local, who knows the culture, who has their own amazing stories to tell sounds so appealing to me. I will of course travel via hostels when the need arises, but I've done that before and there's a certain "false friendship" vibe to the whole thing. There's the repetitive conversations between the typical hostel type. To share an experience, a neighborhood, and a home with someone sounds more real.

Interests

Backpacking, hiking, boating, reading, music, and volunteering.

• dogs
• culture
• boating
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many to list, so I guess all time favorites will have to do. Music would have to be Kings of Leon. Movie would be Shawshank Redemption. Books would have to be the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swam in the Euphrates River

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversation and a willingness to learn.

Countries I’ve Visited

Germany, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Kuwait, Mexico, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Iraq, United States