CURRENT MISSION

to enjoy life

ABOUT ME

The first decade was spent learning and growing...the second decade was spent wondering what life was about...the third decade was spent traveling...the fourth, and present, decade has been devoted to child-rearing... I have found that every phase of life has been enriching. I am an eternal optimist who is hopeful about all that CAN be in this world. I love traveling and have enjoyed learning how to make the transition from being a single traveler to traveling with a child.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is beautiful. Don't get caught up in other people's drama and day-to-day chores...take care of what needs to get done and never forget the greater beauty.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have both surfed and hosted since joining this website in 2010.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first couch surfing experience goes back 16 years to when I was hitch hiking in Alaska and met a kid in the woods who invited me to come check out his parents' house...I realized then that there was a different way that life could be lived and I never looked back. On the road and in the woods, on this continent and others, I have had many people open up their homes to me. I have done the same whenever I have been able. I hold dear to my heart the many beautiful souls who have opened up their homes to me.

I joined this group in 2010 and my first couchsurfing experience was with veteran couchsurfers in Costa Rica. Upon returning to the states, I have been hosting folks here in Athens.

Interests

traveling, hiking, reading, playing scrabble, making music, listening to music, contra dancing, sharing ideas, gardening, community building, sustainable agriculture, socio-economic justice

• beauty
• dancing
• running
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• surfing
• agriculture
• tourism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent 2 years in Togo, West Africa. Every morning I woke up I could see a mountain range in the distance and wanted to know what was there. Halfway into my second year I decided to find out. I put on my pack and headed that direction with no map or compass. The only knowledge I had was that if I walked north, using the sun as my guide, I would eventually run into a river. When I found the river, I would need to head downstream where it would intersect with a road. If I could make it to that road, I would know how to get home. It took me 3 days to find the river using a machete to make my path. When I finally stood on top of the ridge and heard the sound of rushing water below, I cried.

"Of what avail are 40 freedoms without a blank spot on the map" Aldo Leopold

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Canada, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Ghana, New Zealand, South Africa, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Namibia, Togo, United States

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