I do not consider myself a couch potato and even less a sports fan married to a remote control which is what the mention of 'couch surfing' brought to mind at first as the Super Bowl is closing on us.

Well it has taken a different meaning thanks to the Couch Surfing Project which sheds new light on the term 'Social Networking'. Their motto is 'Participate in Creating a Better World, One Couch At A Time'. In my backpacking days, I might have been open to the idea but now I don't think so .

This project is the brainchild  of Casey Fenton. After 2 years of existence the site claims 125.000 participants (not members) in 17.000 cities around the world.

You never know though, an emergency might have you stuck somewhere without lodging and a free couch could sound good then.

Peter Alsop tells us more about the Couch Surfing Project in Sleeping with Strangers published by Good Magazine.

A! The spirit of adventure.

Related stories: A short guide to Sleeping in Airports