CURRENT MISSION

To meet and establish friendships with others in our global community.

ABOUT ME

I love to travel and connect with new friends.

In August 2018 I sold my home of 23 years so that Wayne and I could become Home Free, Global Nomads.

After spending the first 4 months of "homelessness" in Europe, we returned to the US to prepare for another sailing trip. In July 2019, we completed a 6 month South Pacific sailing adventure, traveling between Valdivia, Chile to Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia. Along the way, we spent time on Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Rapa Nui (Easter Island / Isla de Pascua), visited all 4 Pitcairn Islands, the Gambier, the Tuamotus, finishing in Tahiti and Moorea in the Society Islands.

When we returned from the sailing trip, we purchased a small (24 foot) recreational vehicle (Leisure Travel Van - Serenity) and touref the US and Canada by RV for 3 years.

Since we've sold our home, my profile now has to be set to "Wants to Meetup", as we no longer have a "stationary" primary residence, that we can offer to travelers. My "Verified" address is a family member's home in Alto, MI. If you are traveling by RV in the southeastern part of the US, I can offer my undeveloped land in Brunswick County, NC for you to park the RV and visit the nearby beaches of Oak Island.

I've been a member of Couchsurfing since 2006 and through the years have hosted global CS members in Sutton, Massachusetts, USA, Germany, Singapore, Philippines and "co-hosted" a couple members with Dan and Kathy aboard the 78' sailing vessel Lungta in Mexico and El Salvador. I've also traveled around the world staying with CS members in many different countries.

In June 2015 we returned to Sutton, Massachusetts after "living" / traveling on the 78' sailing vessel Lungta (www.LungtaLife.com and www.LungtaLife.com\blog) for 13 weeks. We traveled with Dan and Kathy from Mexico to Costa del Sol, El Salvador where Lungta was based for the next 24 months or so before moving on to French Polynesia.

Although I retired in September 2017 to sail in Patagonia, if interested, you can learn more about my professional career at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pub/keith-midgette/1/9a9/62b

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been a member of the Couchsurfing community since July, 2006. After my first CS experience, which was hosting a Dutch couple who were on temporary assignment in the Boston area, I stayed with Couchsurfing hosts during a 129 day trip around the world over the last 4 months of 2006. In the years since then, I have hosted Couchsurfers in my home in Central Massachusetts, as well as in Germany, Singapore and Manila while on long term international assignments. I have also surfed around the globe including a 3 month backpacking trip through SE Asia in 2013 and a 3 week tour through central and southern Brazil in 2015.

I always look forward to sharing my home in Sutton, Massachusetts with travelers who are passing through Central Massachusetts. (Quick Update - In August 2018, I sold my home of 23 years in Sutton, Massachusetts, USA to become "Home Free" and begin traveling the world full time in retirement. When opportunities arise, I will be looking to host global travelers in temporary locations where I might chose to "hang my hat" for a while. This could be in my step-mom's home in Alto (Grand Rapids), Michigan (where we have set up a cozy crash pad for visits back to the USA), in hotels around the world, or, in short term housing we may arrange from time to time. Still need to figure out what to do about my CS "Verified" address)

In addition to the below list of "Recent CouchSurfing Experiences" which only includes "formal" Hosts and Guests, my CS connections and experiences include many meetings for coffee or organized events, or just online email and chat to obtain recommendations from local residents of the destinations visited. Every year I also host a number of friends and family members who are not members of Couchsurfing so are not included in the list below. Examples include a German/Dutch couple I met while working in Dusseldorf in 2008. They stay with us every year for 2-3 weeks (and we visit them in Germany and Amsterdam). We have friends from the UK who stay a few days every year. In 2015 we hosted Rolf for 3 weeks whom I met while working in Hannover, Germany in 2014.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Prior to September of 2006, most of my "couchsurfing" had been with family and friends, without the benefit of a great site like Couchsurfing. I had opened my home to friends, or to friends of friends, but formalized "surfing" via a website like CS was new to me. In July 2006 I was introduced to Couchsurfing. In late August 2006, I set out on a 4 month trip around the world and stayed with Couchsurfing hosts in 17 different countries. It was by far, the most fantastic travel experience of my life. I made many new friends, and learned so much about different cultures by staying with hosts, rather than staying in hotels in the countries visited.

CouchSurfing Experiences (I primarily only list Guests and Hosts, but occasionally include memorable Travel Companions. In addition to the Surfers listed below, every year we host a number of different friends from around the world that are not members of Couchsurfing)

82 Surfed 3 days with Ramon Font https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/terapiesmanuals in Viladamat, Spain - September 2023

81 "Hangout" with Hamza Barrouhou https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/hamza-barrouhou-1 in Rabat, Morocco - June 2023

80 Surfed 1 day with Mariana Figueiredo https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/mary_ana in Coimbra, Portugal - May 2023

79 Surfed 14 days with Doug Martin https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/whetstonedoug in Huachuca City, AZ, USA - February 2022

78 Hosted (in my vacant, under renovation rental condo in Wilmington, NC) Ihab and his family https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/ihab-sadoon from Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA for 2 days in June 2021.

77 Surfed 4 days with Barry Vial https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/barry-vial on s/v (sailing vessel) Glaedr in Saint Petersburg, FL, United States - February 2021

76 Surfed 3 days with Tom Winters https://www.couchsurfing.com/users/1116413 in Winter Park, FL, United States - October 2019

75 Surfed 2 days with Stuart Meyer https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/stuart-meyer-3 in Jacksonville, FL, United States - October 2019

74 Surfed 18 days with Dan and Kathy (see #66 below in late 2017) www.couchsurfing.com/people/danielfinkelstein and www.couchsurfing.com/people/kathymitchell on sailing vessel Lungta in Tahiti and Moorea in the Society Islands, French Polynesia July 2019

73 Surfed 180 days with Martin (see #65 below in late 2017) https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/martindixon-tyrer on s/v (sailing vessel) Otra Vida to cross the Pacific from Valdivia, Chile to French Polynesia. - February - July 2019

72 Surfed 3 days with Craig Adams https://www.couchsurfing.com/users/2008217259 in Arundel, England, United Kingdom - September 2018

71 Surfed 4 days with David Meier https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/diode in Budapest, Hungary - August 2018

70 Surfed 2 days with Raphael Krausz https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/raphaelkrausz in Budapest, Hungary - August 2018

69 CS "Hangouts" While in Düsseldorf, used Hangouts for the first time to meet up with Lydia https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/lydia-ponggawa from Birkenhead, England, United Kingdom in August 2018.

68 Hosted Nolan Leal https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/quartzcat216 from Cleveland, Ohio, USA for 3 days in June 2018.

67 Hosted George https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/george-dannunzio from Boston, MA, USA for 1 day in June 2018.

66 Surfed (and boat sat for) 39 days with Dan and Kathy (see #49 below in early 2015) www.couchsurfing.com/people/danielfinkelstein and www.couchsurfing.com/people/kathymitchell on sailing vessel Lungta in Panama City and Las Perlas Islands, Panama Oct-Dec 2017

65 Surfed 49 days with Martin https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/martindixon-tyrer on s/v (sailing vessel) Otra Vida in Patagonia, Chile. - September-October 2017

64 Surfed 2 days with Cristian https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/parve in Punta Arenas, Chile. - September 2017

63 Surfed 2 days with Ethan www.couchsurfing.org/people/ethan-page-1 in Hanapepe, Kauai, Hawaii. - February 2017

62 Hosted (In Paris) 3 days Anja www.couchsurfing.org/people/duesseldorf/ from Düsseldorf, Germany. I first met Anja back in 2008 and we have stayed in touch and met up multiple times throughout the years (see 25 below) - February 2017

61 Surfed 3 days with Ilton https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/ilton.jardim in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil - October 2015

60 Surfed 1 day with Giovani https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/anibalgiovani.manetta in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil - October 2015

59 Surfed 4 days with Fabricio, Alex, Rui and Ana https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/fabriciogastaldi in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil - October 2015

58 Surfed 5 days with Marcello and Karina https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/marcellocataldi in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil - October 2015

57 Surfed 7 days with Marco and João www.couchsurfing.com/users/2000160279 in São Paulo, Brazil - September 2015 (we were invited back and spent an additional 3 days with them in October as we passed through São Paulo on our way home). We also had the pleasure of showing them around San Francisco (where we were working) and sharing a dinner with them when they visited in late 2016.

56 Traveled with Joao Carlos www.couchsurfing.com/people/joaocarlos831 from Santos, Brazil (attended 2 Santos weekly meet ups, had dinner and exchanged messages throughout 2 week stay in Santos - September 2015

55 Hosted 13 days Stefan and Michiel from Düsseldorf, Germany - September 2015

54 Hosted 21 days Rolf Petzold from Hannover, Germany - August - September 2015

53 Hosted 9 days Paul-Andre www.couchsurfing.org/people/paulandre/ from Jouy-le-Moutier, France. Paul was my first CS host in 2006 (see #2 below) and it was our great pleasure to host him almost 10 years later! - August 2015

52 Hosted 11 days (in Sutton, MA) Gili (also hosted Gili in Mumbia in 2014) https://www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=5IB2CIKKA/ from Surat, India – June 2015

51 Hosted 1 day (in Antigua, Guatemala) Axel www.couchsurfing.com/people/axelrene from Guatemala City - May 2015

51 Surfed 3 days with Axel www.couchsurfing.com/people/axelrene in Guatemala City - May 2015

50 Traveled 2 days with Julio www.couchsurfing.com/people/jcolorado in San Salvador, El Salvador - April 2015

49 Surfed 18 days Jan-Feb 2015 and traveled 70 days March-June 2015 with Dan and Kathy www.couchsurfing.com/people/danielfinkelstein and www.couchsurfing.com/people/kathymitchell on sailing vessel Lungta in Barra de Navidad and Tenacatita Bay, Mexico - Jan-Feb 2015 and various Mexican and El Salvador ports and overland in Guatemala Mar-Jun 2015

48 Traveled 1 day with Mark Baumgartner www.couchsurfing.com/people/baum89 in Yeosu, South Korea - November '14

47 Surfed 2 days with Sonia www.couchsurfing.org/people/soniasworld/ in Suncheon, South Korea – November ’14

46 Traveled 2 days with Annie www.couchsurfing.org/people/kimannie/ in Jeju Island, South Korea – November ’14

46 Surfed 2 days with Annie www.couchsurfing.org/people/kimannie/ in Seoul, South Korea – October ’14

45 Hosted 2 days (in Mumbai, India) Gili https://www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=5IB2CIKKA/ from Surat, India – Oct‘14

44 Hosted 5 days (in Sutton, MA) Andrew www.couchsurfing.org/people/andrew.lewin/ from New York, USA – Sept‘14

43 Hosted 1 day (in Sutton, MA) Augustin www.couchsurfing.org/people/tigust2/ from Quebec, Canada – Aug‘14

42 Traveled 1 day with Rebekka www.couchsurfing.org/people/quehuong/ in Hannover, Germany – June ’14

41 Surfed 3 days with Cal and Dave www.couchsurfing.org/people/calvinjsmith/ in Manila, Philippines – July ’13

40 Surfed 4 days with Toom www.couchsurfing.org/people/toomphiseak/ in Bangkok, Thailand – June ’13

39 Surfed 4 days with Jo www.couchsurfing.org/people/jolidbetter/ in Vientiane, Laos – June ’13

38 Surfed 4 days with Sutay www.couchsurfing.org/people/sutayguven/ in Siem Reap, Cambodia – June ’13

37 Traveled 2 days with Rebekka www.couchsurfing.org/people/quehuong/ in Saigon, Vietnam – May ’13

37 Surfed 3 days with Marianne www.couchsurfing.org/people/shangzo/ in Saigon, Vietnam – May ’13

36 Surfed 2 days with Hoang www.couchsurfing.org/people/hoang_le/ in Da Lat, Vietnam – May ’13

35 Surfed 2 days with Honza www.couchsurfing.org/people/kuzma/ in Hue, Vietnam – May ’13

34 Surfed 3 days with Anh www.couchsurfing.org/people/hoangtuananh/ in Hai Phong City, Vietnam – May ’13

33 Hosted 1 day (in Manila, PH) Philippe and Teva www.couchsurfing.org/people/philteva/ (my 2006 Hosts in Tahiti!) from Papeete, French Polynesia – MAR‘13

32 Hosted 1 day (in Manila, PH) Levent www.couchsurfing.org/people/levent.koksal/ from Karlsruhe, Germany – MAR‘13

31 Hosted 8 days (in Manila, PH) William www.couchsurfing.org/people/william.vandermeer/ from Amsterdam, Netherlands – Dec‘12

30 Hosted 8 days (in Manila, PH) Leonard www.couchsurfing.org/people/leonard.doyle/ from Washington, DC, USA – Nov ‘12

29 Hosted 8 days (in Manila, PH) Peter www.couchsurfing.org/people/kiwi_backpacker/ from Oamaru, New Zealand – Oct ‘12

28 Hosted 5 days (in Singapore) Dave and son Ben www.couchsurfing.org/people/brisbanedave/ from Brisbane, Australia – Jun ‘12

27 Hosted 3 days (in Singapore) Kevin www.couchsurfing.org/people/kevinkos/ from San Diego, CA, USA – Apr ‘12

26 Hosted 1 day (in Singapore) Chris www.couchsurfing.org/people/chriswaterguy/ from Sydney, NSW, Australia – Apr ‘12

25 Hosted 7 days Anja www.couchsurfing.org/people/duesseldorf/ from Düsseldorf, Germany – Oct ‘10 (had met Anja in Düsseldorf back in 2008 . Anja has become a lifelong friend whom we have stayed in touch with and met on several occasions through the years. In Feb 2017 I hosted her again in Paris, where I was working.

24 Hosted 1 day by (Dinner) Alex www.couchsurfing.org/people/sandycat1/ in Düsseldorf, Germany – Aug ’09

23 Hosted 4 days Elsa www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=8SU925K from Johannesburg, South Africa – Aug ‘09

22 Hosted 1 day Shira www.couchsurfing.org/people/shirabatchaya/ from Long Beach, California, USA – Oct ‘08

21 Traveled 3 days with Ofelia www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=74D8A5K in Luxembourg, Lux and Utrecht, Netherlands

20 Hosted 1 day Dick and Linda www.couchsurfing.org/people/old_dad/ and www.couchsurfing.org/people/lschroth/ from Cobalt, Connecticut, USA – Jan ‘08

19 Hosted 1 day Roy www.couchsurfing.org/people/calen/ from Sewickley, Pennsylvania, USA – Oct ‘07

18 Hosted 1 day Leif www.couchsurfing.org/people/brooklynleif/ from Brooklyn, New York, USA – Jun ‘07

17 Surfed 3 days with Marisa www.couchsurfing.org/people/thousandpetals/ in San Francisco, California, USA – Jun ‘07

16 Hosted 1 day Babar www.couchsurfing.org/people/tommee/ from Karachi, Pakistan – May ‘07

15 Hosted 1 day Shellen www.couchsurfing.org/people/slubin/ from Manhattan, New York, USA – May ‘07

14 Surfed 10 days with Philip and Teva www.couchsurfing.org/people/philteva/ in Punaauia, Papeete, Tahiti – Dec ‘06

13 Surfed 3 days with Peter www.couchsurfing.org/people/peter1009/ in Collaroy, Sydney, Australia – Nov ‘06

12 Surfed 3 days with James and Nang www.couchsurfing.org/people/reggaejames/ in Bangkok, Thailand – Nov ‘06

11 Surfed 7 days with Martin www.couchsurfing.org/people/aurigo/ in Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland – Nov ‘06

10 Surfed 6 days with Giorgio www.couchsurfing.org/people/oigroig/ in Rome, Italy – Nov ‘06

9 Surfed 2 days with Khaled www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=1CGD1KF in Alexandria, Egypt – Oct ‘06

8 Surfed 1 day with Mohammed Al-Garf www.couchsurfing.org/people/garf87/ in Faisal, Cario, Egypt, Oct ‘06

7 Surfed 5 days with Ian www.couchsurfing.org/people/wian555/ in Maadi, Cario, Egypt – Oct ‘06

6 Surfed 9 days with Sanne and Kamal www.couchsurfing.org/people/mickymaus/ in Frankfurt, Germany – Oct ‘06

5 Surfed 6 days with Jens www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=H97UXU in Hellerup, Copenhagen, Denmark – Sept ‘06

4 Surfed 4 days with Sophie www.couchsurfing.org/people/sophico/ in Belleville, Paris, France – Sept ‘06

3 Surfed 4 days with Julia and Toma www.couchsurfing.org/people/joohliah/ in Pont de Levallois, Paris, France - Sept ‘06

2 Surfed 4 days with Paul-Andre www.couchsurfing.org/people/paulandre/ in Jouy-le-Moutier, France – Sept ‘06 (Also Hosted Paul-Andre 5 weeks in Aug 2015)

1 Hosted 3 days Anneke and Dave www.couchsurfing.org/profile.html?id=EYB7P from Delft, Holland - Aug ’06 and Sept ‘07

Interests

Family, Friends, Travel, Boating, Scuba Diving, RVing, Camping, Snow Skiing, Hiking, Theater, Weight Training, Antiques, Computers, Finance, Cards and Board Games

• theater
• coffee
• boating
• board games
• traveling
• blogging
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• sailing
• skiing
• swimming
• historic sites
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy a wide variety of Movies, Music and Books. James A Michener (Hawaii, Poland, Iberia, Centennial, Space, Chesapeake, etc) was always my favorite author, even while in primary school, which probably ties in with my love of geography, travel and other cultures. Sailing books. Now that I am retired, I am reading more philosophy. Charles Eisenstein, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche and Jared Diamond.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

ONE amazing thing??!! Life is Amazing! I could not possibly pick only 1 from a lifetime of amazing experiences.

Snorkling in Grand Cayman, Touring the Canadian Rockies, ParaSailing, Swimming in Lake Louise, Alberta, Versailles and Muse'e d'Orse'e in Paris, the unbelievable historical sites in Egypt, Rome and India, the natural beauty of Australia and New Zealand! Diving Apo Reef in the Philippines. Crewing for 13 weeks with Dan and Kathy on the 78 foot ferro cement sailing ketch Lungta in Mexico and El Salvador. Cataratas do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls) in Brazil. Crewing with Martin on 38 foot sailing vessel Otra Vida in Patagonia, Chile for 2 months in 2017 and again for 6 months crossing the South Pacific in 2019.

There are amazing things to been seen and experienced all over our wonderful planet. If you can't find something amazing in your own backyard, you are not looking hard enough!

Teach, Learn, Share

We all have things we can both teach to, and learn from others. Couchsurfing can be the vehicle to break down stereotypes, open your mind, expand your horizons and see other places as a local. We should never stop learning, and by sharing with others, you open up the opportunity to learn from them.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I enjoy sharing my life with my hosts and being a part of their lives for a few hours or a few days. Of course, I love to talk about travel, sharing stories about each others past travel experiences as well as plans for future travel. I am really not just looking for a place to sleep. I can get that in a hotel. If available, I want to participate in my host's life. That can entail anything from just hanging out and chatting, to exploring their city or country with them. I love the outdoors, so would enjoy hiking, swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving with my hosts. I also enjoy board games and cards.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Pitcairn, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Philippines, Singapore, United States

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