CURRENT MISSION

Trying to adjust to retirement

ABOUT ME

My ancestry is mostly French, with some English, but I have lived most of my life in St. Louis (Missouri, USA), and in Quetzaltenago (Guatemala). In October of 2008, I invested a large portion of my life savings in a 20 by 6.5 meter property that is now La Casa Wilson. In February of 2024, I married Rosalba Huinac, a native of Quetzaltenango, and we currently share a home in Guatemala.

My education is in social work, and I still do occasional volunteer work with refugees in Guatemala, in Mexico, and in south Texas. I have other interests as well including sustainable development, urban gardening, bicycling, and whole-foods diets.

PHILOSOPHY

I was raised Roman Catholic, a religion that my wife Rosalba still practices, but I would call myself more of a secular Buddhist. If I read anything of a spiritual nature, it will probably be written by a Buddhist writer.

I try to stay positive and treat everyone with kindness and expect the same. I try not to waste time, effort, or emotion on people I don't respect or who don't respect me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host people when I can, but fewer now than when I first joined the site in 2009.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

HOSTED

2024
November 18-20: Liborio (169) and Eduardo (170) from Portugal, Mateo (171) from New Zealand, Binoche (172) from the Netherlands.

2021
July 13-20: Roch (second time) from Canada
June 25-29: Mickael (168) from France

2018
July 24-27: Naga (167) from Israel
July 20-23: Andrés (166) from Argentina
July 19-20: Eduardo (165) from Mexico

2014
August 6-10: Conrad (163) from England and Timothée (164) from France
July 4-10: Isa (161) from Belgium and Flavie (162) from France

2013
February 1-4: Sarah (159) and Jacques (160) from Canada
January 19-20: Dominic (157) from England and Peter (158) from the United States
January 14-17: Alejandra and Yohana (second time) from Guatemala
January 7: Francisco (second time) from Guatemala and Sarah (156) from Canada

2012
December 27-29: Secil (154) from Turkey and Jens (155) from Germany
December 27-28: Ana Cristina (sixth time) from Guatemala
December 21-24: Adya (153) from the United States
December 19-20: Kim (fifth time), Rosemary (second time), Adam (151) and Carly (152) from the United States
December 16-18: Ana Cristina (fifth time) from Guatemala
December 14-18: David (third time) from Guatemala and Marissa (150) from the United States
December 5-12: Ritsko (149) from Japan
December 3-8: Martin (148) from Serbia
November 29 - December 9: Becky (147) from the United States
October 20-21: Kim (fourth time) and Rosemary (146) from the United States
October 18 - November 3: Estela Norma (145) from Guatemala
October 18-19: Carolina Mercedes (second time), Emily Fernanda (second time), and Sandra Roberta (144) from Guatemala
October 16-17: Juan (143) from Guatemala
October 16-18: Ralph (142) from Hong Kong
October 13-16: Andrew (141) from England
October 11-13: Nathalie (139) and Thomas (140) from France
October 9-11: Ying (138) from Malaysia
September 14-16: Lauri (137) from Finland
September 14: Vona (136) from the United States
September 7-8: Kim (third time) from the United States
August 27 - November 3: Ana Cristina (fourth time) from Guatemala
September 2: Rebecca (135) from Germany
August 27-28 Alejandra (133) and Yohana (134) from Guatemala
August 12-15: Ian (132) from England
August 8-11: Youn Ah (130) and J (131) from Korea
August 4-5: Laura (129) and Kim (second time) from the United States
July 26-27: Kim (128) from the United States
July 23-25: Alejandro (127) from Mexico
July 20-22: Lu (126) from China
July 17-20: Kisani (124) and Brian (125) from the United States
July 13-16: Kate (123) from Ireland
July 7-12: Meghan (122) from the United States
July 4-7: Aurélie (120) and Manu (121) from France
July 1-10: Hang (second time) from China
June 19-25: Jerome (119) from France
June 17-26: Hang (118) from China
June 5-8: Kurt (117) from England
June 4-6: Mark (third time) from Guatemala
May 18-19: Ana Cristina (third time) from Guatemala
May 11-14: Monika (115) and Robi (116) from Switzerland
April 18-20: Julieta (113) and Barbara (114) from Argentina
April 7-10: Roch (112) from Canada
April 4-7: Alina (110) and Luciano (111) from Guatemala
March 30 - April 2: Anne and Robin (second time) from Holland
March 23-25: Sabrina (108) and Carlos (109) from Argentina
March 19-23: Dion (107) from Belize
March 19: Shona (105) and Will (106) from the United States
March 16-22: Anne (103) and Robin (104) from Holland
February 20-21: Karla (second time) from Guatemala
February 16-24: Fiona (102) from England
February 14-15: Karla (101) from Guatemala
February 13-24: Ricardo (100) from Portugal
February 11-16: Jana (99) from Germany
February 8-13: Santiago (98) from Mexico
February 4-7: Mark (second time) from the Guatemala
February 2-6: Inga (97) from Germany
January 25-28: Valeria (96) from Italy
January 22-28: Robin (95) from Canada
January 19-22: Tom (94) from the United States
January 14-16: Bill (second time) from the United States
January 11-17: Lea (92) and Lily (93) from the United States
January 10-12: Bill (91) from the United States
January 9 - March 30: Ana Cristina (second time) from Guatemala
January 7-8: Amy (90) from Canada

2011
December 22-23: Kieran (89) from Ireland
December 8-10: Luisa (88) from Canada
December 2-5: Kasey (86) from the United States and Laurent (87) from Switzerland
November 28-30: Pauline (85) from France
November 23 to December 16: Ana Cristina (84) from Guatemala
November 10-11: Colleen (82) and Ray (83) from Canada
October 23 to December 16: Carolina Merecedes (80) and Emily Fernanda (81) from Guatemala
October 19-22: Annie (79) from Scotland
October 18-21: Takahiro (78) from Japan
August 3-4: Cliff (fourth time) from the United States
July 23 - November 7: Simon (77) from Italy
July 23-24: Cliff (third time) from the United States
July 18-19: Emmy (74) and Neil (75) from the United States, and Brayan (76) from Guatemala
July 13-15: Katharina (71) and Sina (72) from Germany, and Ricardo (73) from Mexico
July 11-15: Braden (69) and Marty (70) from the United States
June 27-30: Jiyhe (68)from South Korea
June 22-25: Rafael (66) and Raquel (67) from Spain
June 9-10: Cliff (second time) from the United States
May 29 - June 1: Ilse (65) from Austria
May 30-31: David (second time) from Guatemala
May 28-29: Cliff (64) from the United States
May 21-26: Tash (63) from Australia
May 17-26: Pascale (62) from Belgium
May 18-19: David (61) from Guatemala
May 16-17: Sarah (58) and Daniel (59) from the United States, and Fenna (60) from Holland
May 6-12: Wanda (56) and Gerrityan (57) from Holland
May 4: María (54) and Óscar (55) from Spain
April 30 - May 3: Nicole (53) from Canada
April 25-28: Davog (52) from Northern Ireland
April 15-17: Aldo (51) from South Africa
April 4-20: Gihyeon (50) from South Korea
April 6-9: Alex (48) from Romania and Jan (49) from Spain
March 18-20: Vanessa (46) and Seth (47) from the United States
March 13-14: Laerke (second time) from Denmark
February 22-25: Derek (45) from the United States
February 18-20: Courtney (44) from Australia
January 29 - February 1: Iride (42) and Martín (43)from Argentina
January 28-29: Takako (41) from Japan
January 18-23: Laerke (40) from Denmark
January 12-14: Francisco (39) from Guatemala
January 10-11: Moon (37) and Didier (38) from Guatemala
January 8-10: Heather (34), Claire (35), and Jonathan (36) from the United States
January 5-6: Hana (33) from France

2010
December 21-30: Pablo (32) from Argentina
December 22-26: Cathi (31) from the United States
December 19-23: Mohini (30) from Canada
December 16-20: Sarah (29) from Germany
November 20-26: Alyssa (27) and Josh (28) from the United States
October 16-18: Anne (26) from Germany
October 9-11: Quentin (25) from France
October 6-8: Kerri (24) from Canada
September 6-10: Pascal (23) from Germany
September 3-4: Thomas (22) from France
August 21-23: Manuela (21) from the United States
July 29 - August 2: Mike (20) from Guatemala
July 26-29: Mark (19) from Guatemala
July 9-10: Jessica (17) and Dave (18) from the United States
June 18-20: Brett (16) from the United States
June 13-14: Katka (15) from the Czech Republic
May 19-21: Lou (14) from Uruguay
May 8-10: Sofie (12) and Kim (13) from Belgium
April 1-4: Judit (10) from Hungary and Gregor (11) from Germany
March 27-28: Patti (second time) from the United States
February 8-10: Patti (9) from the United States
February 6-8: Milou (8) from Holland
February 3-4: Harmony (6) and Andy (7) from the United States
January 31 - February 3: Marianne (4) from Ireland and Joeri (5) from Belgium
January 21-25: Melissa (3) from Mexico

2009
December 17-18: Nitivia (2) from the United States
December 10-14: Louis (1) from Canada

HOSTED BY
February 21-25, 2013: Mike and Kili from the United States at their home in Georgetown, Texas, USA
June 15-16, 2012: Kim from the United States at her home in San Andres Xecul, Guatemala
May 6-7, 2010: Manuel from Guatemala and Jodie from Australia at their home in Guatemala City

TRAVELED WITHNovember 20-26, 2010: Josh and Alyssa from the United States

Interests

I am mainly interested in social justice issues, specifically United States foreign policy and immigration policy, education, economic development, Latin American history and politics, Spanish language and Latino culture in general. My mother taught me a bit of French, her native language, but it is difficult to maintain without practice.

Now that I am a homeowner, I have become more interested in earth-friendly building design and urban gardening.

• culture
• books
• design
• education
• dining
• gardening
• politics
• movies
• woodworking
• metalworking
• music
• cycling
• teaching
• genealogy
• history
• social work
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I don't even know where to start with this one. I grew up liking 1960s folk music, 1970s and 1980s pop music. It's been a long time since I have bought recorded music, but I still have a moderately-sized collection of cassette tapes and CDs. It's also difficult to buy books in English in Guatemala. I have brought some books from the USA and I usually buy one audio book per month. Recent favorites are "Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist" by Scottish writer Stephen Batchelor, and, well, really anything by him. I've enjoyed a lot of books by English writer W. Somerset Maugham, especially "The Razor's Edge" and by English writer Graham Greene, especially "The Quiet American". I admit to being not current on music, movies or books.

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH: On their first day in town, I typically show guests around my house and around town. I am happy to teach them what I know about local culture and language and share any knowledge I have of restaurants, language schools, volunteer opportunities, etc. If people are interested, I can teach a bit of carpentry.

LEARN: I want Casa Wilson to be more self-sufficient and less dependent on municipal utilities, though I doubt I will ever be completely off the grid. I want to build a showplace urban garden, but my skills and experience are limited. I am doing well at recycling non-organic waste and composting organic kitchen waste, but I need help with knowing what to plant and how to do it.

SHARE: I freely share my time when I have it. I share my food if people are considerate enough to replace it. Feel free to copy any music or movies I have. During your stay, feel free to read any books I have. Please do not ask me to sell, lend, or give you any of my books unless you bring another book to trade for it. Good books are hard to find in Guatemala and even harder to replace. I can show you where to buy books here.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Well, nothing really.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, England, France, Gibraltar, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Guatemala, United States

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