CURRENT MISSION

Connect the dots

ABOUT ME

Thinking about the world is a pleasure and a privilege... we have access to so much more data on it now than ever before, including wonderful human data from living, breathing Couchsurfers! In my (chronological) youth I lived in France, Italy, and Argentina, and visited many other places (though nothing to compete with most of the globetrotting CS'ers). I am a part-time journalist, part-time playwright, part-time writer/editor, full-time human. Good stories are my elixir of choice!

PHILOSOPHY

Travel is a state of mind.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My main purpose in joining CS is finding great conversations and, if lucky, ongoing friendships. I'm very independent, but find that all places feel richer and more resonant with good company. Fortunately I can usually find a room to rent while traveling, so I'm more interested in the quality of a good human connection than in a couch.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Long before CS existed I enjoyed some haphazardly arranged hosting/guesting, and have remained in close touch with some of the people I met that way. Very positive recollections, including being taken in by a delightful extended family in Central France. There were about 70 of them, and they pretty much constituted the entire village. It was a great balance of individual pursuits like writing, drawing, and exploring ruined castles on my own, and joining them for bike rides, cooking, treasure hunts, soirees. Who knew life could be so fun? Now it's time to give back and make Seattle as fun for visitors as my travel destinations have been for me.

Interests

While home I spend most of my free time (especially during the bleak winter months) reading and writing. I see a good deal of theater, both for work and pleasure. In addition I love walking, roller blading, volunteering (especially in capacities where I learn something, like this week fixing kids' bikes for the holidays), psychology, economics, the New Yorker Magazine, The Economist, human nature.

• writing
• theater
• documentaries
• cooking
• walking
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• drawing
• cycling
• communications
• economics
• journalism
• psychology
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I don't own a TV and almost never listen to music unless someone else is around (although sometimes it's nice to start the day with a baroque chorale or chamber music). If I'm in someone else's environment I can adapt pretty readily, but generally I avoid loud noise by using earplugs.I read mostly non-fiction for research and plays for fun. Right now Classical Rome has my attention.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A few years ago I was honored to be taken into the DMZ (between the Koreas). Seeing such a narrow strip of forestland that symbolizes such strife felt extremely poignant... especially flanked by hundreds of tanks and warheads facing opposite directions.

Teach, Learn, Share

Happy to teach a little expository writing, story structure, Italian/French, diabetes management. I would like to learn (more) about Classical Rome, urban planning, alternative energy, import/export, how to make documentaries, how to integrate social media and technology into my life without surrendering my ability to think deeply without it.