I am staying in Alaska this summer so won’t be able to host from May until November, at the earliest. I am not sure if I’ll be returning or not, I may venture off somewhere else! We will see! I’ve enjoyed the lovely travelers who have stayed with me in my home and I look forward to surfing with more people, as I’ve had wonderful experiences!

I’m always searching for the next adventure. I run, I wander, I hike anywhere and everywhere. My favorite is being outdoors. I’m kind of a take it day by day person so often do not have solid plans, but instead remain open when I travel because I believe that’s where the magic happens! I like to learn from locals about their towns and culture, and life in general. I like to try new things and I think learning things together with friends is magic! I would love to meet people who will share their passions and hobbies with me and teach me how to do new things.

I do my best to share kindness with everyone I meet. I enjoy making new friends and meeting people from all over, swapping travel stories and having meaningful conversations. One of the cool things about going on adventures with new friends is you put your trust in someone you barely know - and it challenges you and grows you in so many ways. You create bonds and memories that you can come back to when you need a good laugh or a happy reminder that life is colorful and fun and worth living!

Please read the info in the Home section before requesting to stay. I would prefer not to host for only 1 night, however do make exceptions depending on the circumstances, especially if you are a bikepacker or cyclist.

I’m not an Instagrammer (is that even the term?) but I have one and you can connect with me there if you feel so inclined! @marathetinyadventurer

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Want to meet new friends while traveling and happy to host travelers who want to genuinely connect and experience new places. I’ve hosted and house swapped with several people from here and other travel groups. I have had wonderful moments spent with newly made friends doing things they like to do. One of my favorite ways to spend time with hosts and couchsurfers is just having meals together. I think there is nothing nicer than sharing a meal. I love children also so the times I get to stay with hosts with kids are so special to me. Children are just wonderful- so full of curiosity and openness. To me, the best part of traveling is making new friends. The hardest part is leaving them when it’s time to move on. It’s not about how many places you mark on your map, it’s about the people you meet and the imprint they leave on you when you are open to them.

I’m honestly a little lost in life so I wander around looking for hope. I find it in the kindness of strangers. I once went through something deeply painful when someone I loved did something deeply cruel to me. I met a young man in an airport in Canada - I shared my story with him. When we stepped outside the airport he leaned down and kissed me. When I looked up at him my eyes were filled and tears fell down my face. He grabbed my chin in his hand and told me I was beautiful - then he wrapped his arms around me and let me weep on him. It’s kindness like this, moments like this, that leave imprints on us forever. When someone is unkind to you, do not forget that kindness still exists, and it will show up when you need it most. You meet the kindest people when you travel, and that’s why I appreciate couchsurfing.

Interests

• traveling
• music
• hiking
• mountains
• nature
• kindness
• making friends
• trying new things
• writing poetry
• making friends around the world

Music, Movies, and Books

Books = novels, travel, science, philosophy, social justice, history
Fav books include The Devil in the White City and Braiding Sweetgrass
Music = classical, indie folk, indie rock, acoustic, dark cabaret
Fav musicians/bands include: Palace, The Crane Wives, Barr Brothers, Lord Huron, Daughter, Paper Kites, Sharon Van Etten, Yeasayer, Glass Animals, and of course good ol’ Frank Sinatra (just naming a few, but I love all kinds of music)
Movies = I don’t really watch movies or TV much - but if you want to watch a holiday movie together at Christmas I will never say no to that!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I could talk about things like summiting mountains, traveling solo with complete spontaneity, yada yada. But it’s really the collection of ‘smaller’ moments that add up to an amazing life. Making a new friend in Copenhagen and taking her daughter to unicycle class, eating dinner every night with the couple I couchsurfed with in Norway, watching my partner take his first sip of coffee in the mornings as we take our time waking up for the day, exchanging letters with the family from Texas I met in Cozumel, late night phone calls with my best childhood friend - and the list goes on because as much as I get a kick out of big adventures, the memories I cherish the most are those simpler moments with people I love and care about, or people I am forming friendships with nearby and across the globe. Those are the things that make us who we are as people, how we are in the world. We are all connected, we just have to say ‘hi’ to each other, and be willing to take the time to do anything and nothing. Gratitude is the healing power in life, and I am grateful for everyone I cross paths with, and the big and the small moments that make an amazing life.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach kindness, learn from each other, share love and connection

What I Can Share with Hosts

Laughs, kindness, friendship that lasts, a helping hand or two, good conversation

I’m a poet so if the mood strikes I may write you a poem :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Greenland, Iceland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, United States, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States