Couch surfing:
A skilled professional sport; most often taken up by the homeless
musician. It may consist of riding the 'ultimate wave' (prolonged or
permanently scored sofa accommodation) or smaller and shorter waves
(temporary stays).
These skilled and talented 'couch athletes' sometimes consider getting a job, but usually are back out in the surf within a few weeks thereafter.
These skilled and talented 'couch athletes' sometimes consider getting a job, but usually are back out in the surf within a few weeks thereafter.
I've been couch surfing for what seems like years. This doesn't mean to say that I've not had a house of my own (or a room at least) to live in but the climbing life (if you wanted to call it that) just seems to work well with couch surfing. I think it stems from living in B'ham for so long while the majority of my climbing partners and friends live in Stoke-on-Trent. Over the years I've stayed on many couches, floors, occasionally spare beds, but no bath tubs mind and I've picked up a few things.
1. Find out what time the house owner is getting up in the morning. This is pretty important, especially if your someone who likes to sleep late or you've ended up having a late night. Be prepared to fit around somebodies else's living arrangements because at the end of the day they are giving you a place to stay. This works with bedtime too. If they want to sit up till 4am playing xbox or watching films, sat on the couch your supposed to be sleeping on, then it's well it is their call. If you really need sleep just ask if you can crash on the floor in another room.
2. Make sure that everyone in the house is cool with you crashing on the couch. Most of my friends are also climbers and they understand that you'll need a place to crash, especially if you're both heading out to climb again the next day. But just because they're cool with you surfing their couch it doesn't mean everyone else will be. Sometime they're not the house owner or there's other less accommodating persons living there which might cause a problem. You don't want to cause an issue for a friend who's putting you up for the night. There's always somewhere else to crash. (see points 5 & 6)
3. Karma's important! I surfed a while back with a bunch of friends as part of an impromptu bbq and they basically just got drunk in my friends living room (like very drunk) and the chipped off in the morning without much more than a thanks. Part of being a good couch surfer is giving a little back. Whoever is putting you up for the night is going out of their for you, and even though it is only sleeping at their house it's nice to give something back. I generally try and do the washing up, make them a cup of tea for when they wake up (always best to ask if how they like their tea), tidy up anything from the night before. Hell I've gone to the trouble of sweeping someone yard before. This is really important if it's a house that you stay at regularly or it's with one of your friends. You don't want friction because in a friendship because they think you're sponging off them for living space and if it's somewhere your staying regular then you want to keep up a good relationship with the homeowner.
Oh, and always try and replace the milk if you've been sat around all day drinking tea!
4. Orientation is key. Find out where everything is, like kitchen, bathroom, front and back doors. Light switches are a pretty key thing to know the location of too. Hopefully this'll stop you bumbling around in the night should you need something and waking everyone up with a load of bashing and crashing.
5. Don't impose. Don't assume that you're staying there, even if you've crashed before. If the nights getting late don't wait till the last minute before requesting a sleeping space, especially if you've been drinking. You don't want to put someone in a awkward position where they feel they have to let you stay, even if they don't want to because they can't turn you out onto the street. It's best to always have a back-up plan (like a car to sleep in) just in case you forget. Also don't guilt trip people into letting you stay by complaining about staying the night in the car. It's just not cool. I've found that if you've stayed there before and you've been a good house guest that you'll generally get and offer of a couch, before you feel the need to ask.
6. Know when to leave. This is a big one! You don't want to jeopardize a friendship because you can't shift your lazy ass off the couch. Know when someone wants you to leave or give them a bit of time to themselves. If that means finding a new couch or returning to base camp (wherever you call home) then so be it.
1. Find out what time the house owner is getting up in the morning. This is pretty important, especially if your someone who likes to sleep late or you've ended up having a late night. Be prepared to fit around somebodies else's living arrangements because at the end of the day they are giving you a place to stay. This works with bedtime too. If they want to sit up till 4am playing xbox or watching films, sat on the couch your supposed to be sleeping on, then it's well it is their call. If you really need sleep just ask if you can crash on the floor in another room.
2. Make sure that everyone in the house is cool with you crashing on the couch. Most of my friends are also climbers and they understand that you'll need a place to crash, especially if you're both heading out to climb again the next day. But just because they're cool with you surfing their couch it doesn't mean everyone else will be. Sometime they're not the house owner or there's other less accommodating persons living there which might cause a problem. You don't want to cause an issue for a friend who's putting you up for the night. There's always somewhere else to crash. (see points 5 & 6)
3. Karma's important! I surfed a while back with a bunch of friends as part of an impromptu bbq and they basically just got drunk in my friends living room (like very drunk) and the chipped off in the morning without much more than a thanks. Part of being a good couch surfer is giving a little back. Whoever is putting you up for the night is going out of their for you, and even though it is only sleeping at their house it's nice to give something back. I generally try and do the washing up, make them a cup of tea for when they wake up (always best to ask if how they like their tea), tidy up anything from the night before. Hell I've gone to the trouble of sweeping someone yard before. This is really important if it's a house that you stay at regularly or it's with one of your friends. You don't want friction because in a friendship because they think you're sponging off them for living space and if it's somewhere your staying regular then you want to keep up a good relationship with the homeowner.
Oh, and always try and replace the milk if you've been sat around all day drinking tea!
4. Orientation is key. Find out where everything is, like kitchen, bathroom, front and back doors. Light switches are a pretty key thing to know the location of too. Hopefully this'll stop you bumbling around in the night should you need something and waking everyone up with a load of bashing and crashing.
5. Don't impose. Don't assume that you're staying there, even if you've crashed before. If the nights getting late don't wait till the last minute before requesting a sleeping space, especially if you've been drinking. You don't want to put someone in a awkward position where they feel they have to let you stay, even if they don't want to because they can't turn you out onto the street. It's best to always have a back-up plan (like a car to sleep in) just in case you forget. Also don't guilt trip people into letting you stay by complaining about staying the night in the car. It's just not cool. I've found that if you've stayed there before and you've been a good house guest that you'll generally get and offer of a couch, before you feel the need to ask.
6. Know when to leave. This is a big one! You don't want to jeopardize a friendship because you can't shift your lazy ass off the couch. Know when someone wants you to leave or give them a bit of time to themselves. If that means finding a new couch or returning to base camp (wherever you call home) then so be it.
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