I am a grandfather, traveler, and activist who is lucky to be retired and have time for all of these passions and more. I host many travelers through Home Exchange during the summer, and my grandkids regularly sleep over, so I don't often have availability. If the stars align, however, I'd love to meet fellow travelers and host you in my home. The positive energy and inspiration I get from meeting people from around the world and close to home is what keeps me involved in Couchsurfing.

Years ago, I took a leave of absence from my teaching job, sold my house and left for a year of travel, teaching, and volunteering in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. That experience prompted me to plan for an early retirement. I now live in a two-bedroom condo in Westerly. If you'd like to know more about my year abroad and travels since then, you can see my blog at: http://timothy-flanagan.com/

Please note that I do not live in New York. I have gotten several requests for people visiting New York, but I live three hours from the city. I also cannot usually accommodate requests of more than 2-3 nights.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I started with local Couchsurfing gatherings and met some amazing travelers and hosts. I hosted occasionally over the course of a year and met travelers from all over the world, including two who inspired me to take a leave from my job and travel for a year. I enjoy meeting world (and local) travelers, hearing their stories, learning from each other.

Interests

I practice photography and sometimes teach it to middle school students. I am always interested in hearing about volunteer opportunities while traveling. I mostly enjoy learning about the world by meeting others.

I am very involved in Westerly ARC, a grass roots social justice organization, (https://westerlyarc.weebly.com) and attend their weekly gatherings among other activities.

• photography
• education
• technology
• traveling
• teaching
• anti-racism

Music, Movies, and Books

The music of Brazil left a lasting impression on me during my time there. I always seek out new artists and enjoy discovering new sounds, especially radio stations.

Some of the recent books that have left an impression on me include:

James by Percival Everett
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs
Mama's Boy by Dustin Lance Black

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I adopted my two sons from Brazil, was a foster parent to several children, and now have grandchildren.

Teach, Learn, Share

I taught middle school for 35 years and have degrees in international education, instructional technology, and second language acquisition. I'm no expert, but these are all areas of interest.

I will share my experience teaching, traveling and volunteering overseas, including how to plan a year abroad. If you're interested in adoption or foster care, I have plenty of stories to tell.

Home Exchange has changed the way I travel and I'm always happy to share my experience and answer your questions. I think of it like Couchsurfing but with a point system.

I can tell you more about my involvement with the Westerly Anti-Racism Coalition.

Mostly, I'm a good listener, so I'd love to learn about you and where you're from.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bolivia, Brazil, England, United States, Viet Nam