CURRENT MISSION

I was born and pretty much raised in Portland, OR. At age 27 I joined the navy. I served 5 1/2 yrs. active duty and retired out of the reserves in 2003. When I was discharged from active duty, I worked in IT. I am now retired from the civilian sector and from 8/12 to 9/13 I fulfilled a longtime dream of leisurely traveling the US on the back highways, meeting locals and taking time to get to know them and what their lives are like. Met wonderful people and developed some lasting friendships.

I visited Spain and Portugal for 2 weeks Fall of 2016, Northern Italy for 3 weeks Spring 2017 and Japan for 3 weeks Nov 2018. Most recently I’ve visited Greece, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Santorini, and Rome again. I'd like to visit smaller towns as well as the larger cities. I much prefer meeting and interacting with locals as opposed to sitting in a hotel room. I'd like to get a real taste/feel for the local daily living. I love beautiful landscape/gardens and shopping for tokens of my visit, although I'm not a voracious shopper nor do I have the desire to accumulate much.

I'm congenial, accommodating, easy to get along with, respectful, clean and honest. I do not use drugs and do not wish to be around them. I drink very little alcohol and I do not smoke. For security and safety reasons, I host females only (unless it's a mom with a son). I truly am sorry that I have to take those precautions. I hope we meet and enjoy each other's company.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

To be honest, three reasons: 1) to save money, and 2) to meet locals, establish friendships and learn firsthand about the area, and, 3) to meet folks that I can offer the same hospitality to if/when they visit my hometown. I enjoy hosting considerate, respectful and clean surfers and pointing them in the direction of all that Portland/OR has to offer. Sometimes I enjoy being their personal guide. I look forward to meeting new friends from all walks of life.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I spent a year traveling the U.S. ('12-'13) and surfed with 35+ hosts. The majority of them have been positive experiences. A couple of them were eye-opening. So many hospitable, welcoming hosts out there, and I've enjoyed meeting them and remaining long-time friends with a few. After a 9-month hiatus to help family with medical issues followed by over a year of divorce legalities, I was ready to hang out my shingle and welcome others to my home. That lasted a year and then I was off again. The wanderlust life seems to be my cup of tea. After 6.5 yrs of being foot loose and fancy free with nothing tying me down, I purchased a townhouse in April '19 and once again am able to offer a clean, safe home to travelers.
POST COVID: You must be fully vaccinated to stay with me and prepared to show proof.

Interests

I enjoy easy-to-moderate hiking, bike riding 3 miles or so (my butt gets sore if I ride much longer than that), walking, spending time w/friends, and reading. I love to sun bathe. I'm drawn to both ocean and mountains. I like Christian fiction, true military books as well as biographies and auto-biographies. I'm a Christian. That doesn't mean I'll preach to you or question your beliefs. :o) As a matter of fact, I'd be interested in learning about your personal beliefs/views; broaden my perspective. :o)

• books
• walking
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many movies, but generally action, comedy and romance. THE FAULT OF OUR STARS, most definitely!! The Sound of Music is my all time favorite.
Classic rock and roll/old school, easy listening , and jazz.
Books by Francine Rivers, Terri Blackstock, Neta & Dave Jackson, Karen Kingsbury, Lori Wick, James Patterson....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Giving birth to two healthy boys. Driving and shopping along the Amalfi Coast in Italy, walking the Acropolis in Greece, touringvthe Isle of Capri via scooter, visiting the ruins of Pompeii in Italy, spending six weeks in Yokosuka, Japan when in the military, two weeks in Songkhla, Thailand on military assignment, a week-long mission trip in Puebla, Mexico, 2 weeks in Spain and Portugal, 3 weeks in Northern Italy (LOVE Italy!), 3 weeks in Japan, and my unforgettable year of traveling the US by car.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've learned quite a bit about relationships---and what not to do if you want to remain married---in the past 12 years and find conversation on this topic interesting. I'm open to learning most anything that isn't illegal or immoral. Traveling tips and tricks are of particular interest to me as are the younger generation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Life lessons and experiences. I don't consider myself as having any talents to share or teach. I've dabbled in a few things (crochet, knit, decoupage), but never stuck with, or mastered, any. I enjoy learning about new places and lifestyles. I like to move beyond my comfort zone to learn, but not in an unsafe, illegal or haphazard way. I'm a rule-follower.
PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST TO STAY WITH ME IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF BEING FULLY (2 vaccinations and a booster) VACCINATED FOR COVID.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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