Hi! I’m Pino. 🤠 I’m pretty extroverted and love being around people. A friend once joked that I become the “mayor” of wherever I’m living or visiting, not because I like the attention but because I enjoy connecting and sharing a good time. I try to be generous with others because I’ve found that generosity is usually reciprocated. I live by the maxim “all flourishing is mutual,” and I try to let that guide how I show up with people.

Beyond that, I’m a lifelong traveler, former bilingual teacher, and now a social worker. I enjoy exploring places slowly and with curiosity. I’m in my 40s, freshly out of grad school, and still believe community and kindness are what make life meaningful. So let’s connect!

Note: my older reviews refer to me as George, my middle name. These days I go by my first name, Pino.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Better question to ask "Why am I returning to CS?". ;-) I first joined in 2005 (check my rad 'Pioneer Member' pin) and am super glad to be back. What keeps me here is the possibility of reciprocity and genuine connection without profit driven transactions. My family’s home was always open to visitors, so hosting feels natural to me. I value the kind of serendipitous connections that come from sharing space, listening to each other’s stories, and seeing someone else relax and enjoy themselves. That spirit still feels pretty damn magical!

Interests

I love staying active, whether it’s trail running with my 16-year-old dog, weightlifting (and chatting lol) at the YMCA, or cruising on my bike, and I balance that with slower moments like a morning coffee, good, unhurried conversation, and reading fiction. I’m a curious learner who really enjoys pitching in, whether that’s helping in the kitchen as your sous-chef or weeding in the garden. I derive a lot of joy helping others.

And Special Note about Inclusion...

As a queer/gay man I know what it feels like to be excluded, but I also know what it feels like to be accepted and celebrated by people I love. Because of that, I try to do the same for others, especially for those who haven’t always felt that joy and acceptance in life because of their skin color, ability, gender identity, religion, immigration status, or other parts of who they are. I don’t get it right every time, but I make the effort.

• dogs
• cooking
• vegetarian
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• teaching
• social work
• tourism
• parks
• social justice
• feminism
• trees
• libraries
• birding
• lgbtq

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer impacted me in a big way..."All flourishing is mutual!" (Dannng!), I was happy to get lost in the wonderful world of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet, e.g. 'My Brilliant Friend". I keep my Goodreads pretty up-to-date: www.goodreads.com/pinomarchetti
best book of 2024 so far: "Beautyland" by Marie-Helene Bertino

Movies: Love my local nonprofit theater and the 'companionable silence' of watching a movie with others ppl. Recently saw the Japanese film "Perfect Days". great soundtrack!

Music: Wide-ranging, from classical to Bad Bunny to Natalia Lafourcade to Linda Ronstadt...I'm all over the map with music. The pod Alt.Latino always points me in the right direction. Not a huge concert fan tho. I'm 6'5" (196 cm) so I'm usually blocking someone's view lol, plus I'm not much of a night owl.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For the past few years, ever since I left social media in 2020, I’ve kept a journal practice called “Seeing Beauty.” Every morning I jot down three things from the previous day that stuck with me, usually small, ordinary moments that feel amazing in their own way. It might be a sweet interaction I saw at the grocery store checkout, a flower catching the sun in a certain way, or a really great conversation with a sibling. The mundane can be pretty magical. <3

Teach, Learn, Share

Learn: I'm always up for learning a new card game!
Teach & Share: Lived a full life and learned lots of good shit. Just ask!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I’m definitely a morning person and tend to turn into a pumpkin after 8 p.m. I don’t drink much alcohol these days or smoke weed, but have nothing against either. I do my best to communicate openly and respectfully, and I appreciate the same in return.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Portugal, Russian Federation, Réunion, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Costa Rica, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

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