My partner and I are nomadic, mostly in Northern California. We do a lot of pet/housesitting for our lodging but I'm thinking this might come in handy to fill in gaps, if people are amenable.

I'm a writer and activist for political bridging work, and am studying for a Community Ministry Certificate through a Pagan seminary. My partner is a caterer and would definitely be happy to make you a lovely meal.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Can't remember exactly why I originally joined. I've lived in community houses, been homeless, hitchhiked, gone to rainbow gatherings, slept on hippie buses...I'm very used to the counterculture vibe. Sometimes I've needed a place to stay while traveling on a budget, and when I've had a place I enjoy paying it forward and maybe meeting some cool people.

Interests

Writing - Political Bridge Building - Pagan/Pantheist Ministry

I have gotten excited and inspired about many different strategies for 'making the world a better place' in my life, from permaculture to social justice campaigns (including cancel culture stuff, I'm embarrassed to admit). I became very disillusioned with 'social justice' movements over the past 10 years and have come to the conclusion that many activists are (re)acting out of trauma responses and perpetuating patterns of human interactions that include violence, suffering, and authoritarianism. I no longer see most activist movements as being part of breaking cycles of violence and suffering in the world, but rather being caught up in such cycles. At best such movements do some good to change society while also creating new and unacknowledged harms. I've been on a path of recovery from the social media clicktivism frenzy of my twenties. I don't do social media any more :).

• animals
• cats
• arts
• womens rights
• reading
• traveling
• dumpster diving
• languages
• dialogue
• spanish
• academia
• trauma healing

Music, Movies, and Books

Selected Shows - Completed
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend with Rachel Bloom
La esclava blanca, a Colombian telenovela I watched all 80-90 episodes of

Currently watching - Don't Spoil Me!
The Dragon Prince/Mystery of Aaravos
Resident Alien
Elementary (Sherlock Holmes show)

Favorite Books and Movies of my youth/young adulthood:
The Hunger Games
Harry Potter (books and fanfiction, not the movies)
Lord of the Rings
Homeward Bound and Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco
The Land Before Time
His Dark Materials trilogy

Some influential nonfiction books:
Nature & the Human Soul, Bill Plotkin
Nonviolent Communication, Marshall B. Rosenberg
Spiritual Mentoring: A Pagan Guide, Judy Harrow
When a Pagan Prays, Nimue Brown (still in progress)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked to a hot springs waterfall, and swam in the creek running under it. In Guatemala. Yes, you read correctly, a hot springs waterfall.

Rode in a small waterboat off the coast of Panama into Colombia, through the most beautiful waters I've seen (tied with Lago Atitlan, and probably other places too).

Survived into my thirties with an Adverse Childhood Event (ACE) score of 7 or 8.

Teach, Learn, Share

Networking for bridging work, and related skills/disciplines
(Nonviolent Communication, mediation, facilitation, consensus-decision-making)

Down to discuss: semantics & etymology, academia and its pitfalls, Pagan ministry, theology

I've had lots of different interests over the years that aren't as active these days, but are still part of me, such as foraging wild plants, dumpster diving, gardening, and permaculture.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Feedback on writing/writing development.
Active, compassionate listening
Partner will prepare food :)

I have a lot of experience doing conflict and group decision-making work. If you have a conflict you're struggling with I could consult with the individuals involved separately, and see how mediation or collaborative problem-solving could help.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, United States, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Uruguay