CURRENT MISSION

To have as much fun as possible while doing all I can to make the world a better place for everyone.

ABOUT ME

I am using my retirement to do the things I love: travel, learning, teaching, being outdoors, and music. I have a few part time jobs and volunteer as a docent at Duke Gardens and the NC Botanical Garden. My jobs include working as an environmental educator at Agape Center for Environmental Education, facilitating community rhythm circles and birthday parties for kids, and performing with Jewelsong, my vocal group. You can see and hear us at www.jewelsong.net. Right now I am home in Chapel Hill, but I travel a lot. I'm studying Spanish, and spend several weeks a year in Spanish speaking countries learning more Spanish and having fun abroad.

PHILOSOPHY

Oh gosh! In one little blue square?
At this point in my life my job is to feel good and help others to feel good. It sounds simplistic, but it is at the basis of all decisions I am making. After a life of a lot of hard work and too much distress, I am committed to doing what I love and having as much fun as I can. Of course, I have my own definition of fun, which includes some work. But I am trying to choose work and activities I love. It's too late to be miserable.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Janet and I have hosted several CS folks, and now I want to participate by finding a couch for my next trips. I want to minimize my already huge ecological footprint!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Janet and I have hosted several couch surfers in NC. I have met folks from all over! I have been hosted, by a wonderful woman in Fort Walton Beach, and a terrific couple in Murray, Utah.
The Florida trip was a godsend, since I was visiting my brother in Destin, and had nowhere to stay that I could afford. And the stay in Murray was even more a life saver, since I had to make a second trip to Utah to be with my dad in the hospital, and I'd already spent a lot of money on three flights and hotel expenses. I got to stay near the hospital for free with some wonderful people who treated me as an honored guest!
I've had great stays in Glacier National Park, Kamloops, CA, Kalispell, MT and Vancouver, with very generous and fun loving people. I am so grateful to Couchsurfing.
I have always minimized my expenses and broadened my cultural horizons by staying in hostels or with families in Mexico and Central America, and Couchsurfing adds to my ability to travel widely, safely and joyfully!

Interests

Art, beauty,creativity, deserts, desserts, exploring, friendship, generosity, health, inspiration, joking, learning, music, nature, the ocean, pleasure, quests, retreats, singing and songwriting, teaching, understanding, vistas, writing,) and I'll just put y and z wherever x is.

• birds
• arts
• writing
• singing
• beauty
• education
• environment
• cooking
• desserts
• partying
• gardening
• boating
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• snorkeling
• ecology
• teaching
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Yes, yes, yes
World music, independent films, books by Elizabeth Peters (the Amelia Peabody series), Carl Hiassen, Christopher Moore, Tom Robbins, and anything about Mary Magdalene.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Omigosh! Let me try to pin one down. OK--
recently I met a man in Puerto Vallarta who was born on the same day as I (Christmas) and his name is Jesus!
Along the same lines, in Elbow Cay, Abaco, on a snorkeling trip there were TWO other people on the boat with Christmas birthdays!
There are lots more amazing things than that, but these are what came to mind.

Teach, Learn, Share

Want to learn more Spanish, can share lots about the environment (names of birds, plants, ecology), love to sing and play around with music. Travel together.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a good organizer/declutterer, a willing cook and bottle washer, a babysitter, willing to explore new places, will take my hosts out to dinner or cook one (or more!) for them, willing to share my knowledge of the natural world, and I am pretty much willing to help out where help is needed, if time and circumstances permit. I think I am a very easy houseguest; at least, that's what I've been told!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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