Couchsurfing.org, part II

[moominmuppet]

So, I did create a profile there.

Cleveland's not a big vacation destination, but I'm hoping I might end up with a few folks who are crossing the country.

Anyone else out there using the site? I'd be interested in some friends, since that's part of how the trust relationships form on that site.

Comments

[lilyofthewest.livejournal.com]

Nate W was on there, and hosted a fair number of people. So, there's at least some demand for Cleveland. Though mostly for people stopping here while driving further east or west.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

If he still has an account, any chance of getting him to friend me?

[greeniezona.livejournal.com]

that's an impressive profile! it's something i definitely would have participated in before jefferson. but now i am a little bit wary.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* I'm the queen of overshare.

If I were able to travel for more extended periods of time, I'd really love to explore the couchsurfing, rather than couchsurfed, aspect, but given the pets, the job, and the household, it seems that's likely to be rare for me.

[burnout-ohio.livejournal.com]

I read about that in Cleveland magazine (surprising, I know!). I don't know if I'd trust some random person to crash here. Maybe if I had a roommate.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

Having a big household definitely makes it easier, psychologically. Then again, this definitely tends to be the kind of risk I take in my life; it doesn't strike me as much different than picking up hitchhikers, and I've been doing that since I got my truck in college.

And I suspect part of the difference for us may have to do with physicality. I'm big enough and forceful enough in my presentation that most people don't seem to see me as a particularly opportune target, particularly in sexual terms. It's sure not perfect protection, but I do notice that I seem to have a much easier time within the world than my more traditionally gorgeous friends, especially those who come across as more feminine. Says all kinds of shitty things about our culture, that does.

[forestfire.livejournal.com]

I used to never, ever be shy about this sort of thing despite my far less physically intimidating presentation, but after my last couch hippie stole $4000 worth of possessions (note thats about the total of all expensive items in my household) I feel far more trepiditious about leaving strangers in my home. I wish that weren't true. Maybe I should work on it. Afterall, I've given dozens of people crash space and only once has it burnt me.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I know it's certainly true for me that anytime a bad outcome happens, I get skittish for a while, and then gradually get back to about where my normal default seems to be. Sometimes it's modified a bit by the experience, but usually less than I would've expected.

[forestfire.livejournal.com]

I think thats because for the most part my views represent a decision made after weighing the risks against the joy of living how I want to live, not because I'm deluded about the lack of risk. Accordingly, being confronted with a weorst case scenario does not shock me so much as upset me and doesn't fundamentally alter the balance. Interestingly, I have very little fear for my personal safety. I'm not at all convinced that a single man could entirely physically dominate me without sustaining injuries that would severely deter him. A man with a weapon could, but I absolutely refuse to spend my life being afraid of men with weapons.

If my situation allowed it, I would definitely couch-surf across the country.

[moominmuppet.livejournal.com]

I think thats because for the most part my views represent a decision made after weighing the risks against the joy of living how I want to live, not because I'm deluded about the lack of risk.

Exactly. Of course, that's one of the things we have very much in common.

And it drives me absolutely batshit insane when people blow off my values as naivete, because I really don't think it could be further from the truth.

I absolutely refuse to spend my life being afraid of men with weapons.

Amen to that.