Happy International CouchSurfing Day!

Got Couch? Trucker Cap

Today, friends, is the 2nd annual International CouchSurfing Day!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term: CouchSurfing.org is a web-based community built around the ideals of freeganism and community participation. The concept is simple: if you have a couch or extra bed in your home, why not share it with travelers? If you’re a poor traveler, why pay for hotels when you can stay free in someone’s home?

Couchsurfing as a general practice is often looked down upon by those who can afford hotels. But think about it, readers: how many times have you decided not to travel because you couldn’t spend the money? CouchSurfers refuse to be limited by the prohibitive cost of travel, instead choosing to share what they have with strangers. The results, as I can personally attest, are overwhelmingly positive.

Couchsurfing pillowfighters, originally uploaded by blmurch

Visiting the CouchSurfing community will give you an instant idea of how strong the movement has become. Just about everywhere in the world you can find someone who has a couch, or who at least is willing to meet for coffee and help you get oriented. More importantly, you can see where travelers have stayed, and read reviews of each individual’s trustworthiness, conduct, and the like. For example, if you’re visiting Spain and want to know where to stay, you can read personal statements about each available host; if you’re a host in Chicago, you can get full information on any potential visitor before they show up (and, since your address isn’t posted, you can deny them your couch if you don’t like the cut of their jib).

I know plenty of CouchSurfing members, but didn’t have my first experience until I got to Denver. There, my host hung out chatting with me till late and then let me sleep in her spare bedroom (with a proper bed!). In the morning, we met a local “ambassador” and they squired me all over town, finally depositing me safely at my destination.

There are scads of CS people in Austin, too. One of my first nights here, I wound up purely by chance at a CS meetup, where at least 20 people had taken over a pizza joint. Meetups are a great way to meet locals (who, by the way, tend to be some very interesting, intelligent and unconventional types). It’s like instantly having a group of friends as soon as you arrive someplace.

To those of you who’ve never tried out CouchSurfing: this is a perfect time to get involved. Join the site and poke around; you’ll see it’s not just young hippies and freeloaders, but plenty of families and older folks too. If you’ve got a spare bed or couch, try listing it! Or just join a discussion group. And of course, don’t forget to investigate your local CS community. You too can participate in creating a better world, one couch at a time.