CURRENT MISSION

Wow, it's been a long time since I updated!
To start, I'm not traveling anymore (well, not continuously); a couple of years ago I settled (for the time being, anyway) back in the Bay Area, after spending time with various family members once my more adventurous travels ended. I'm here until I can move myself back to Portland, though there's no upcoming date for that yet.

The unfortunate news is that I am not in a place (still...) where I can offer a couch. I'm renting a room in a great house brimming with good folk, but we're already a way station for many community members, and have limited resources. Also, it's not my house. : ) I very much look forward to the time when I can host.

ABOUT ME

Quiet, introspective, hermit-ish, literate, tidy, nightowl, geeky, snarky, skeptical, alternative in a variety of ways, a lover of all animals, with a special affinity for cats...

PHILOSOPHY

Just simple things: Try to leave places undamaged and if possible, better than I found them; try not to hurt others, and try to be respectful at all times; live quietly, frugally, simply; think a lot; create what art I can. Love my kids and granddaughters. Be kind to animals. Nothing fancy...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment, very occasionally as a surfer when a rare travel opportunity arises; still waiting to be in a place where I can host...

***PLEASE NOTE: I am happy to have folks contact me by text or phone if they need to (at 510-913-3269), but please please: if you call, *leave a message*. I don't answer unknown numbers (which are sometimes spam calls), but I do check messages. And text is always good. Thank you!!***

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

It's been informal and happenstance until now (friends, family, people I've met along the way...); I've done homestays of other sorts via internet (craigslist, airbnb, etc.), but am eager to try this version out now that I'm traveling for a while. So far, decidedly amazing, awesome and adventuresome (and apparently alliterative, too!)

Interests

I read, write, play board games (but not computer or video games!), look at stars, bask in the sun, talk to cats, dogs and myself (and the occasional other human), think about just about everything

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• arts
• news
• video games
• board games
• traveling
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Way too many to list. Desert island books would include: the Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, some Sheri S. Tepper books, If On a Winter's Night a Traveler & Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy and Party of One by Anneli Rufus. Really good recent reads include Ready Player One and Sisters Brothers. Music would include Dar Williams, Bree Sharp, Flogging Molly, Secret Garden, Into the Woods & Rent soundtracks, lots of old rock'n'roll & classic country. I think Wings of Desire was the most visually beautiful film I've seen, Korczak the most heartbreaking, and The Gravekeeper the funniest (no, you won't find it. Come back. Really. Don't bother. It's not a challenge.) And I love Buffy, yes I do.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The vast sky full of stars over Joshua Tree National Park late at night on the fourth of July (better than any fireworks show...); the sun sparkling on the Mediterranean in the south of France and the city of Avignon; the mountains of Oregon and southern Washington.

And more recently... picking up two tired hitchhikers (and their dog!) in middle-of-nowhere, Utah... and finding out they're Couchsurfers (naturally)!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to play Hive, the best game in the universe (or liar's dice, or Zombie Dice, or Lost Cities, the perfect game for travelers...). I can teach you how to tell a cat you're trustworthy (no, really!).

And I'm willing to learn almost anything of which I'm physically capable.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Mexico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States