CURRENT MISSION

meet people; share experiences

ABOUT ME

retired couple - worked on call until age 72(Sandy in early childhood special education. John programmer at IBM until age 49 - bored - left and worked as nursing assistant at nursing home, said then and say now "best thing I ever did FOR MYSELF - LOVED IT - we had you covered at both ends!) - love to travel and to meet people - John: favorite description of myself "John, you'll always be young" from an 85 year old Aunt meant(I've always assumed as a compliment). Sandy - nah , just that would never grow up
Sandy: never bored - always something new to learn or experience As my Uncle said, "Have a good time living, you're a long time dead."

Social Justice issues - volunteers for a family homeless shelter; Meals on Wheels; AARP free tax prep; Adult Family Literacy Help Store; Project Legacy-to help youth of color create a positive legacy for the future; former foster parents(girls ages 5-17); hosted International Exchange Students; organize a Neighborhood Watch; past-past-President(1st 12 years here) and general volunteers for our small(20 units) condo building;

March. 2025 Social Justice update: in past 2 1/2 years have volunteered 6 times (3 weeks each time) with TEAMBROWNSVILLE Brownsville, TX. Welcoming and assisting legally admitted asylum seekers. One time we met a family coming to Rochester(MN) and with our church, aiding them as they awaited asylum hearing(Nov.

Our Building: we moved here in 2006; intentionally did not want to live with a "bunch of old people" - no offense old people, I am one. Currently(Sept 2022): residents range from 6 to 84. Ethnic mix of Caucasian, Indian, Chinese, Middle eastern
We have 11 rental units - the majority are connected with Mayo Clinic(research, residency, etc); we have had some very fun and enjoyable experiences with them.

PHILOSOPHY

John - live and let live
Sandy - make a difference

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

host and surf

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

have hosted surfers(has always been enjoyable, interesting) still have contact with 2 - from Russia and Turkey) plus let 2 sisters from Sweden here for Mayo Clinic stay at condo while we were gone, never did meet in person - not really a CS experience but that was their initial contact with us; when I share that with people they think I am a little crazy(well ... maybe so) but I just say "have a little faith, 99% of people are decent and not out to harm you, if you can be a little help, seize the opportunity"

兴趣

Sandy: gardening; book clubs; cooking; yoga; being green and ending litter; x-ctry skiing
John: golf(hacker), book club(Men's Book & Pie Club - our wives say the emphasis is on the pie! Well, close to the truth), was a runner for a long time; ran 7 marathons but last marathon was at age 59(long time ago), Prisoner Visitation and Support(Rochester has Fed. Medical Prison); x-ctry skiing

• writing
• books
• coloring
• education
• cooking
• marathon
• clubbing
• gardening
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• kayaking
• sailing
• skiing
• golf
• teaching
• nursing

音乐、电影和书籍

recent movies: The Theory of Everything; The Imitation Game; Bridge of Spies; Spotlight; Room; Sully

July 2017: well, neither list too recent - 2018 -wow, lists are VERY old - should update

recent reads: The Man Who Loved China; The Living and the Dead (about Robert McNamara and Vietnam); The
Sept. 2022 - this s quite old - doing a quick overall update - will(?) get back to it
Grace of Silence; The Death of Josseline; Somalis in Maine; Abundance; Crossing to Safety; The Boy at the Gate(growing up in a Dublin orphanage - author is also a musician who we recently saw). The Things We Carried(Vietnam experience), In Defense of Women, Lost at Sea; The Warmth of Other Suns(African American migration from south to north from 1920's thru 1960's), The Boys in the Boat, The Cellist of Sarajevo; Genghis Kahn and the Making of the Modern World; Notorious RBG; The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

Music: jazz; many times(actually annually, or more) to New Orleans(also Katrina volunteers); classical

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

volunteered with Cesar Chavez and the United Farmworkers Union California in the 1970's -- just have to add a more recent: In the early 2000's for about 4 years we spent 6-8 weeks in Jan-Feb in Harlingen, Texas(Sandy's parents were there). From her long experience in and love of Head Start Sandy developed a short program to give at Cameron County Head Start sites. We went to all 40+ sites and then began recycling. Working around a "northern winter" theme it incorporated reading, nutrition, physical activity, etc. John was involved in all these dressed in a top hat to boots as Frosty the Snowman. His favorite quote about it"Sandy, you may be the writer, producer, director, but remember, I'm the star!" The kids loved Frosty! We would do it again in a minute if we were spending time in Harlingen.

我游览过的国家

Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Sweden