CURRENT MISSION

My mission is to be a blessing to others.

ABOUT ME

Here's what I love:
Being on this amazing planet, and having the health and energy to explore it by bike and help others enjoy their time here, in peace and love.

PHILOSOPHY

In January of 2006 I realized that I am most happy living out of a tent and helping other people. My personal possessions truly get in the way of my developing relationship with God. So I gave my things away, lightened my load, and spent 7 years as a full time volunteer - for whatever cause I came across in my travels that spoke to me - individuals, organizations, religious, environmental, all were fair game. If they would give me a place to pitch my tent, or space on a floor or a couch, I helped them to the best of my ability. I obtained my Permaculture Design Certificate in January 2012 with Starhawk's Earth Activist Training, and deepened my skills with Compassionate Communication by attending the Bay Area Leadership Training in Nonviolent Communication in 2012. I began facilitating workshops on a gift basis. Now I am no longer nomadic. I have chosen to stay on Vashon Island, Washington to write a book about my nomadic life of service, and to help Americans adopt both Permaculture and Compassionate Communication as ways of life which will help the whole world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I contribute funds to the project, and helped set up the financial reporting through Quickbooks, at the Nelson, New Zealand Collective.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My previous experiences were with Servas.org, a peace organization started after WWII where you stay 2 nights with people. Highly recommended. I got to sail Sydney Harbour with one family, and paddle a dragon boat on practice night with another, and have hosted the most marvelous travelers from everywhere, during several years living in Auckland, New Zealand

Interests

Volunteering, Permaculture, NonViolent Communication, The Gift Economy, Spirituality, Travel, bicycling, peace, meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique, Time Banking, Community Supported Everything, Community Savings Pools, Urban Orchards, Transition Towns, guerrilla gardening, photography, animals and their welfare. Am a vegetarian, not quite vegan yet.

• animals
• books
• design
• photography
• dining
• vegetarian
• vegan
• running
• meditation
• gardening
• boating
• clothing
• traveling
• cycling
• sailing
• business
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Three Waves of Volunteers and the New Earth by Dolores Cannon, Victories Without Violence, compiled by A. Ruth Fry, The Power of Unconditional Love, Autobiography of a Yogi, Seth Speaks, the Bible, Revelations of Divine Love by 13th Century Julian of Norwich are some of my favorite books. My favorite movie is Earthlings - which finally converted me to vegetarianism, and membership in PETA.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have bicycled over Nufenen Pass in the Italian Alps pulling all my gear (tent, clothes, food, etc), in my B.O.B. trailer behind me at the age of 47, and over the French Jura at the age of 57.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have learned about NonViolent Communication, www.cnvc.org and teach it to others as I travel.

I also have learned about EFT: Emotional Freedom Technique. This seems to be a quick, self-applied technique for releasing all kinds of emotional limitations. See www.emofree.com . It seems to be especially helpful in cases of irrational fears, and traumatic stress syndrome.

I have lots of practical skills in running a business profitably, marketing, and networking. I have lots of practical skills in organic gardening and landscaping. I have lots of practical skills in living frugally and bountifully. I have lots of practical skills on traveling frugally, especially by bicycle.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, United States

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