CURRENT MISSION

To unlearn a thing or two.

ABOUT ME

After working in the office for five years it occurred to me that I was wasting my life. A good friend of mine was killed in an auto accident, and it confirmed in my mind that life is too short to put off doing the things that you find meaningful and fulfilling. So, I quit my job, broke up with my girlfriend, gave away stuff and stored the rest, and got on the road in May 2013. It's been an amazing journey, and now I find myself trying to give back and pay my good fortune forward as much as possible... by sleeping on people's couches and benefiting from their generosity.

PHILOSOPHY

Man, if I haven't come off as some burnt out hippie already, I absolutely would in answering this one.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Since I'm on an extended trip I'm not able to host surfers in Long Beach (yet), but I will once home.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been housed and fed by people who started as complete strangers and quickly became wonderful friends, and I'm eager to share that experience with people who visit southern California.

Interests

Learning new things, most anything outdoors, discussing ideas, art, nature, learning about people, reading, writing, hiking, history, music (classic rock and hip hop primarily), economics, politics, literature,

• arts
• writing
• literature
• politics
• reading
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• economics
• history
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm way behind on movies, it's hard to find the time for them, but I generally enjoy comedies, documentaries, and HBO shows. music: classic rock, jazz, blues, and hip hop, but am open-minded and I dig being exposed to new music. I enjoy reading books that I think matter, and I owe my mom a real debt for nurturing in me an appreciation for reading.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw something recently that may not be "amazing" but it had an impact. I was sitting in the back of the bus beginning a 6-hour ride in Ecuador. Another backpacker had snagged the last seat, just as the aisle began filling with overflow passengers. The backpacker looked like he was about to pass out, but he still gave up his seat so an older woman and her grand daughter could sit for the next six hours while he stood next to them. Nothing particularly amazing about what he did, but looking around the bus it was clear the other passengers noticed, and I think it's little things like that which change the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, England, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, Peru, Uruguay