CURRENT MISSION

To connect with as many kind hearts as possible.

ABOUT ME

Born in New York to Czech political refugee parents, I grew up both skeptical and optimistic. I went through the motions for a while and wanted to want what everyone else seemed to want but eventually figured out that fulfillment lies in following one's bliss, whatever it is. Get to know me at www.zverina.com....

PHILOSOPHY

Wealth is not measured by what you own but how much you share.

"We're here to help each other through this thing, whatever it is." -Kurt Vonnegut

"Slow" is my motto. Consume less, live more.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I used to live in a larger place where I could host. As soon as I get my smaller place figured out better, I'll re-open to couchsurfers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Newbie. I met a couchsurfer via craigslist rideshare and we drove 2,000 miles together from Seattle to Chicago. I almost lost my voice from the great non-stop conversations we had. It was the first I'd heard of CS and I believe it could really be revolutionary.

Interests

Swimming, cycling, reading, writing, photography, making art & music, DJ'ing 45s.

98% vegetarian but willing to make exceptions.

• arts
• writing
• books
• photography
• vegetarian
• movies
• reading
• music
• cycling
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a bit of a media junkie. Sometimes I worry about that. Even so, I enjoy sharing films with friends in my home, projecting them (the films, that is) on a large screen in our living room.

The film I've seen more than any other is "It's a Wonderful Life." A masterpiece on every level. Other favorites include Brother from Another Planet, Team America, Touch of Evil, Man on Wire, The Man Who Wasn't There, Whitnail and I, Capitalism: A Love Story, Serial Mom, Heartworn Highways, Daisies, Fireman's Ball, Music Is the Weapon, Brazil, Dark Star, About a Son, Phantom of the Paradise.

I like my music flat, black, round, and proud--that is to say, on vinyl. Blues, jazz, world, rock, surf, punk, new wave, experimental, younameit. I DJ 45s on an old tube amp gramophone under the moniker Port-a-Party. The Kinks, Monks, Guided by Voices, Moondog, Thelonious Monk, Factums, Le Sang Song, Townes van Zandt, Pavement, Love Tan, Uz Jsme Doma, Al Garcia, and anything on the Sublime Frequencies record label get a lot of play in our house. I also improv bizarre psychedelic rock with a group of friends every Sunday night at a shared studio space. Music is freedom! Seattle is a great town for live music, so if that's your thing I'd be happy to take in a show with you.

The author who I keep coming back to is Kurt Vonnegut. His was a voice of sanity, compassion, and empathy in a topsy-turvy world. I'm rediscovering my old favorite John Steinbeck and recently went bananas for Raymond Chandler's first four novels. I also like good nonfiction, especially writings on social justice and history in the vein of Howard Zinn, Derrick Jensen, and Noam Chomsky.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Was a caretaker for a remote 50-acre hobby farm on Maui, 20 beehives and 140 chickens that provided honey and eggs for neighbors through small CSA.

Teach, Learn, Share

Love turning people on to books, music, and films which might enrich their lives.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Happy to assist with household chores and purchase some groceries.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, United States, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, United States

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