Hi there, I'm a grounded nouveau hippie! I am working in and learning the electrical trade to support myself and build a literal tradeable skill in hopes of future work trade possibility. When I'm not wiring houses, I am playing music, reading, writing, hiking, kayaking, singing, making silver jewelry, or any of innumerable other possibilities! I love making things with my hands, and am beginning to discover for myself what they mean when they say "follow your bliss." My hope for myself and people everywhere is to learn to know oneself, for to understand is to love.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Immmediately? Because I'd love a place to crash in Portland! But in the bigger picture, because I'm beginning to free myself gradually to be able to travel more! Part of the magic of traveling for me is to understand places, and that can most easily be done through the people who love those places. As some one who has tourist traveled in the past, my focus for future travel is to create meaningful connections with people in the places I travel to.

Interests

• singing
• music
• guitar
• opera
• hiking
• kayaking
• sailing
• exploring
• learning
• making friends
• silversmithing
• beachfires

Music, Movies, and Books

Music! Regular rotating cast, but I always return to classics, CSNY, zeppelin, Hendrix, Marley, Mitchell, etc. Right now I dig the shins, radical face, mimicking birds, mother mother, the black keys, Newton Faulkner, a tribe called red, and others. I am always looking for new recommendations!

Movies! Old movies, new movies, I'm not picky as long as they make you pause to either think or feel!

Books! Oh books, books books books. Right now I'm reading Die Wise, by Stephen Jenkins on; 12 Planet, by Zechariah Sitchen; and Suite Franchise, by Irene Nemirovsky. I love the authors Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Orson Scott Card, and Nevil Shute, among many. Again, if it makes me think in a new way, or feel something deeply, I'll enjoy it. I really appreciate Shute, for example, through his incredibly realistic stories about completely ordinary people in truly extraordinary circumstances. I highly recommend On The Beach and A Town Called Alice. But I'll wax on forever about books...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hah hah, I can't totally take credit for this one, but the most amazing thing I've done yet was move across North America, from the rural Midwest, U.S. to coastal British Columbia, Canada with my family as a teenager. The cultural shifts and similarities have shaped my life since, and I can confidently say that I'd be nothing like the person I am today if I hadn't had the opportunities that I've had since moving. I am ever so grateful!

Teach, Learn, Share

I am never sure what I could teach, but I'm getting pretty good at residential wiring, so if you're hankering to learn about Canadian electrical code, I could help ;). I could also teach a little guitar, if you have one to play with. Really though, I think we have the opportunity to learn something about ourselves, another person, or the world with every person we meet. I deeply value the small but powerful lessons that I take and hopefully give through the very act of interacting with people every day.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a pretty good cook, if you don't mind simple, mostly veg based fare (raised by a vegetarian), and love helping out in a kitchen. I am great at taking orders and doing dishes! I totally don't mind helping on projects either. I'm good with my hands and am learning more and more about building and construction, as well as being increasingly proficient in residential electrical, so if there is anyway I can safely help around a place I am more than happy to do so! I'm also good at weeding, with really specific instructions!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Costa Rica, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States