CURRENT MISSION

I'm getting older but not more grown-up. Although I don't travel on a whim like I used to, the best kind of travel is the couchsurfing kind. I wish this site had existed when I was bouncing around in the late '90s!

ABOUT ME

This is a tough one. We moved a lot when I was a kid. I took 9 years off between high school and college and spent most of that time sailing on the East Coast and all over the Caribbean. I studied geology, then got a job improving energy efficiency in the sewage treatment industry. I go to Burning Man. I started a free textbook website in college that got my name in the papers. I own a photobooth. I'm married to a wonderful woman. We own a dog and own our own home. Domestic life is hard after all those years living the couch-surfing lifestyle, but I try to make the most of it.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm not much of a philosopher, but I do believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm just getting my toes wet here.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

From 1994 to 2000, I was practically a full-time couchsurfer (but without the website). I worked on a variety of boats, eventually getting my captains license. I did tons of seasonal work, and lots of bouncing around aimlessly in between seasons. I spent 4 summers in Hilton Head Island, SC, a couple of years on and off in the Caribbean, a winter in Venezuela, sailed as far north as Halifax, and slept on a LOT of couches, floors, hammocks, air mattresses, VW bus floors, thermarests, bunks, and even a few beds.

Interests

I'm into community building through art and music. I go to burning man. I own a photobooth. I love baseball. I love to travel, and wish I could do more of it.

• dogs
• arts
• books
• flying
• traveling
• music
• surfing
• sailing
• baseball
• geology
• law
• philosophy

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a live music fanatic. The genre is less important than the execution. For years I spent every summer going to music festivals like Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Lollapalooza. I don't read as much as I'd like, but I love crime fiction and am also a sucker for nonfiction like Michael Lewis.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most recent mindblowing experience was over our anniversary dinner at a nice restaurant here in Boston. There was a large table seated near us that spontaneously broke out into an amazing chorale version of the lord's prayer. It was totally stunning. Turns out they were the Oxford Choir, visiting America. It was a transporting experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can show you where to get good legal free textbooks online, teach you how to make a photobooth, educate you about sewage...what do you want to know?

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, U.S.