Still finding my place in the world but getting pretty comfortable with it. I'm not searching so much as building now.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I joined CS more than ten years ago, when there were just 200,000 people or so on the site. Things have really changed. I remember when membership hit 1,000,000 and I remember when they got rid of ambassadors, and then they got rid of vouching.

I got involved in couchsurfing because it was more fun to see the quiet little corners of places and go to dinner parties where no one spoke English than it was to go to clubs and bars. I didn't do it to save money, I did it because I wanted travel to be about expanding my horizons and challenging my views. I didn't just want to drink overseas, I wanted to see what life was like outside of my personal experience.

Things have changed, or at least it seems that way. Now I get requests that break the rules all the time, and guests who treat my house like a hotel. I stopped hosting for a while. But now I'm living in NYC and I feel obligated to pay forward the generosity of all the people who have hosted me over the years.

Here's how I try to find good guests:

1: Everyone who wants to surf my couch should have a profile. That profile should be complete, which includes having a couple of references. I used to not require references, but with so many couchsurfers all over the world, it shouldn't be that hard to meet up with a few people for coffee and a little tour.

2: Tell me why you would rather surf my couch than get a room in a hostel or AirB&B. If the number one reason is to save money then I'm sorry but you cannot surf my couch.

3: Acknowledge my house rules.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Before CS there was HC in Montpellier and it was good. The problem was it was also a little haphazard/fly-by-night. So when I started planning my next big trip I tried something a guest had recommended called "Couch Surfing" and sure enough it was awesome. I probably surfed about 6 months worth of couches, just not back to back. I was hooked.

When I went back to the US I ended up surfing for five weeks in Texas, which was rad. I was also a part of the surfing community in my home state of Colorado and I tried to help it grow a bit. And whenever I travel (which is far too often) I try to meet up with at least one surfer, even if I'm staying with a friend.

Now I'm finally hosting, paying it forward as it were and treating my guests to as much goodwill and hospitality as I can spare. My schedule is a little cramped, but I like to think I'm getting the job done.

Interests

Public policy, especially with regards to how we allocate space and resources in urban environments. That's an obscure way to say I love talking about government, which is not the same thing as politics.

• writing
• architecture
• ethics
• crossfit
• flying
• traveling
• surfing
• economics
• engineering
• history
• public policy
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Let's trade music! I'm always behind the curve on discovering new stuff (or stuff that everyone else figured out but I somehow missed) so if you surf with me come prepared to share or create a playlist on Spotify.

My most recent favorite movie is probably Mad Max: Fury Road. And of course the Kung Fu Panda Trilogy. I like mysteries and a bit of film noir, especially if it's got a good soundrack. LOTR is of course a very good traveling movie, but it's even better as a book. It makes you want to take long walks. I object to horror movies because I think they feed the fear culture that has gotten our world into so much trouble. On my shit-list is any movie that attempts to portray travel and adventure as a dangerous and stupid activity (taken, hostel, touristas, the ruins etc.). I loathe pop-culture movies because I think they reward stupidity.

For music my tastes could be called "eclectic." I like just about all music, except, for some strange reason, reggea, which everyone else loves but I find agonizing. Also I lived in Guadalajara for a summer so if I never hear another Mariachi band that will be ok. If we ever meet we should definitely exchange some tunes because I am almost eternally behind the curve when it comes to music.

And there are books. So many books...His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Small Gods, Going Postal and Making Money (and in fact, a lot of Terry Pratchet because, yes, it's easy, but no, it's not for children). The Dancer Upstairs (which was made into a pretty brilliant movie of the same name, not to be confused with the Dancer in the dark mentioned above). Lately I'm reading a lot of non-fiction, mostly stuff about taxes, the working poor and public policy. I like to think I have a solid book recommendation for everyone.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw the Northern Lights in Iceland and they blew me away.

Teach, Learn, Share

At this point I guess I'm a senior couchsurfer so maybe I can give you tips on how to get the most of the couchsurfer experience. I'm happy to share my limited knowledge of NYC, especially the parks, with you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I like brunch and I can whip up decent pancakes. I also have jokes for almost any crowd.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

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