Relationship:
I'm married, me and my husband have been together since 2011. My husband is a PhD in Clinical Psychology. He researches heavy drinking behaviours in young adults. As a pair we are a very happy couple. We go to "gaymers" events, which is one of our main social outlets in the city. Toronto Gaymers is a highly-inclusive group of LGBTQ2 people interested in all different types of gaming. Jeff and I are frequently present for board games events.

Background:
I've done lots in my life so far. I've sold men's suits, and women's fine gowns. I operated a nuclear power plant onboard USS Olympia SSN 717 as an Electronics Technician ETN2. I was a chemical technician in the steel industry. Largely I've worked in a lot of different places where I was highly unsatisfied with the negative societal impacts of the work. This is why I am so much happier as an entrepreneur, and doing what I do now, working in environmental justice. It really doesn't pay, but I have lots of social capital. Hence another reason why I really need to do this couch surfing thing.

Professionally:
I've been a practicing entrepreneur since 2012. My current efforts are placed in the realm of knowledge translation. Specifically building environmental applications drawing from health and behavioural sciences.

For Fun:
1) I have a history of playing MMO's for fun including: DAOC, EQ2, Rift, SWTOR.
2) Jeff and I like to eat out several times a week. We aren't well to do, so we like inexpensive but tasty and healthy options nearby. We have a great indian place nearby where you can get 2 curries, daal, rice, salad and naan for under $10 CAD. WOW!
3) Church St., the primary gay village in Toronto is a short walk away from where we live.

Location in Toronto
1) We are a very short walk from Sherborne Station (the West/East subway), and its just 1 stop away from transferring to the North/South subway line.
2) Some pretty cool inexpensive restaurants nearby, as well as a grocer in case you want to get anything like that
3) Awesome view of the east side of the city
4) Bike rental "bixi bikes" very nearby if you want to bike around the city

interested in (music, for fun, food)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As a guest:
When people visit new places a huge environmental impact follows them. Since flying is already so impactful how can we reduce our impact? That's what brought me here. What I like now that I am here is the concept of people using a simple site like this to develop a global network.

As a host:
Me and my husband are unexperienced as hosts at the moment - but are interested in hosting for the LGBTQ2i community. Specifically we are near church st. (the main gay village in Toronto) and feel this could make for a safe place for the LGBTQ2i community to experience Toronto.

Interests

• environment
• board games
• eating out
• science
• science fiction
• green living
• green energy
• conferences

Music, Movies, and Books

Music by artist:
Lisa Gerrard (I was at this concert in Toronto - #1)
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlzpMIRRGoE
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9NqTUmpm4A
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-IFpa-PpRI&index=6&list=PLC1A4F913E4101E45

Schiller
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxHvVDocoI

Movies:
1) V for Vendetta (favourite movie)

TV:
1) Black Mirror (scary, hyper-realistic near-future science-fiction, insanely well executed level of detail)
2) Battlestar Galactica (Linear advancing storyline, some of the most powerful scenes in film)
3) Farscape (Very unique space opera)
4) Please Like Me (Show with non-token gay main character, whose primary subject is not their gayness)

TV that despite being well-executed, I don't like:
1) Broadchurch (A show where a small town gets chronically emotionally ravaged, not fun for me)
2) Madmen (Has great direction and attention to detail, but the sexist characters are hard to watch)

Books:
1) Anything by Isaac Asimov
2) Just finished Hyperion series and it was AWESOME

Books I don't like:
1) Read the whole Dark Tower series, I think Wizard and Glass was the worst book that I kept reading till the end. Stephen King really should not write love stories.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Did you know Kilauea the volcano on the big island of Hawaii has been erupting for decades? When I was in the navy in the mid 2000's I went on a 5 mile or so hike to where the lava was flowing down into the ocean and roasted a marshmallow on the flowing lava. Photo in my profile of the event.

Whatever you do don't touch the marshmallow to the lava haha!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
*Board Games, Sustainable systems & strategies to mitigate climate change, good inexpensive food @ local holes in the wall
*Helping you get around the city on public transit - I can definitely help with this.

Learn:
While in new places I like to understand the flair and flavour of the places. To understand place is very interesting to me.

Share:
I'm a very open person. Time allowing I'd be happy to dine with a guest in my home, show them around a bit, etc. I could see inviting guests to a board game night or watching a netflix prior to bed.

What I Can Share with Hosts

As a traveller I'd be happy to cook for myself and the host. I think that would be glorious. I'd love to connect and discuss our mutual interests

My most likely purpose for travel will be conferences. I attend conferences to disseminate knowledge about the behavioural sciences and how they can be applied to stop climate change.

I'd be happy to hang out and play some different games, dining etc. with hosts if they are interested in spending some time together outside of our mutual professional schedules!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Guam, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States