diff --git a/lib/couchrest.rb b/lib/couchrest.rb
index f55d606..ad99639 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest.rb
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ module CouchRest
   autoload :FileManager,  'couchrest/helper/file_manager'
   autoload :Streamer,     'couchrest/helper/streamer'
   
+  require File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'couchrest', 'mixins')
+  
   # The CouchRest module methods handle the basic JSON serialization 
   # and deserialization, as well as query parameters. The module also includes
   # some helpers for tasks like instantiating a new Database or Server instance.
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb b/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
index 681814e..51fea23 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/core/document.rb
@@ -14,62 +14,39 @@ module CouchRest
   end
   
   class Document < Response
+    include CouchRest::Mixins::Views
 
     attr_accessor :database
-
-    # alias for self['_id']
-    def id
-      self['_id']
+    @@database = nil
+    
+    # override the CouchRest::Model-wide default_database
+    # This is not a thread safe operation, do not change the model
+    # database at runtime.
+    def self.use_database(db)
+      @@database = db
     end
-
-    # alias for self['_rev']      
-    def rev
-      self['_rev']
+    
+    def self.database
+      @@database
     end
-
-    # returns true if the document has never been saved
-    def new_document?
-      !rev
-    end
-
-    # Saves the document to the db using create or update. Also runs the :save
-    # callbacks. Sets the <tt>_id</tt> and <tt>_rev</tt> fields based on
-    # CouchDB's response.
-    # If <tt>bulk</tt> is <tt>true</tt> (defaults to false) the document is cached for bulk save.
-    def save(bulk = false)
-      raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required for saving" unless database
-      result = database.save_doc self, bulk
-      result['ok']
-    end
-
-    # Deletes the document from the database. Runs the :delete callbacks.
-    # Removes the <tt>_id</tt> and <tt>_rev</tt> fields, preparing the
-    # document to be saved to a new <tt>_id</tt>.
-    # If <tt>bulk</tt> is <tt>true</tt> (defaults to false) the document won't 
-    # actually be deleted from the db until bulk save.
-    def destroy(bulk = false)
-      raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to destroy" unless database
-      result = database.delete_doc(self, bulk)
-      if result['ok']
-        self['_rev'] = nil
-        self['_id'] = nil
+    
+    # Returns the CouchDB uri for the document
+    def uri(append_rev = false)
+      return nil if new_document?
+      couch_uri = "http://#{database.uri}/#{CGI.escape(id)}"
+      if append_rev == true
+        couch_uri << "?rev=#{rev}"
+      elsif append_rev.kind_of?(Integer)
+        couch_uri << "?rev=#{append_rev}"
       end
-      result['ok']
+      couch_uri
     end
     
-    def copy(dest)
-      raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to copy" unless database
-      result = database.copy_doc(self, dest)
-      result['ok']
-    end
-    
-    def move(dest)
-      raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to copy" unless database
-      result = database.move_doc(self, dest)
-      result['ok']
+    # Returns the document's database
+    def database
+      @database || self.class.database
     end
 
   end
-
   
 end
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/core/server.rb b/lib/couchrest/core/server.rb
index e76ab82..8d39998 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/core/server.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/core/server.rb
@@ -1,25 +1,62 @@
 module CouchRest
   class Server
-    attr_accessor :uri, :uuid_batch_count
-    def initialize server = 'http://127.0.0.1:5984', uuid_batch_count = 1000
+    attr_accessor :uri, :uuid_batch_count, :available_databases
+    def initialize(server = 'http://127.0.0.1:5984', uuid_batch_count = 1000)
       @uri = server
       @uuid_batch_count = uuid_batch_count
     end
   
-    # List all databases on the server
+    # Lists all "available" databases.
+    # An available database, is a database that was specified
+    # as avaiable by your code.
+    # It allows to define common databases to use and reuse in your code
+    def available_databases
+      @available_databases ||= {}
+    end
+    
+    # Adds a new available database and create it unless it already exists
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #
+    # @couch = CouchRest::Server.new
+    # @couch.define_available_database(:default, "tech-blog")
+    #
+    def define_available_database(reference, db_name, create_unless_exists = true)
+      available_databases[reference.to_sym] = create_unless_exists ? database!(db_name) : database(db_name)
+    end
+  
+    # Checks that a database is set as available
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #
+    # @couch.available_database?(:default)
+    #
+    def available_database?(ref_or_name)
+      ref_or_name.is_a?(Symbol) ? available_databases.keys.include?(ref_or_name) : available_databases.values.map{|db| db.name}.include?(ref_or_name)
+    end
+  
+    def default_database=(name, create_unless_exists = true)
+      define_available_database(:default, name, create_unless_exists = true)
+    end
+    
+    def default_database
+      available_databases[:default]
+    end
+  
+    # Lists all databases on the server
     def databases
       CouchRest.get "#{@uri}/_all_dbs"
     end
   
     # Returns a CouchRest::Database for the given name
-    def database name
+    def database(name)
       CouchRest::Database.new(self, name)
     end
   
     # Creates the database if it doesn't exist
-    def database! name
+    def database!(name)
       create_db(name) rescue nil
-      database name
+      database(name)
     end
   
     # GET the welcome message
@@ -28,9 +65,9 @@ module CouchRest
     end
 
     # Create a database
-    def create_db name
+    def create_db(name)
       CouchRest.put "#{@uri}/#{name}"
-      database name
+      database(name)
     end
 
     # Restart the CouchDB instance
@@ -39,7 +76,7 @@ module CouchRest
     end
 
     # Retrive an unused UUID from CouchDB. Server instances manage caching a list of unused UUIDs.
-    def next_uuid count = @uuid_batch_count
+    def next_uuid(count = @uuid_batch_count)
       @uuids ||= []
       if @uuids.empty?
         @uuids = CouchRest.post("#{@uri}/_uuids?count=#{count}")["uuids"]
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/mixins.rb b/lib/couchrest/mixins.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e482ffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/couchrest/mixins.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+mixins_dir = File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'mixins')
+
+require File.join(mixins_dir, 'views')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/mixins/views.rb b/lib/couchrest/mixins/views.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36eebf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/couchrest/mixins/views.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+module CouchRest
+  module Mixins
+    module Views
+    
+      # alias for self['_id']
+      def id
+        self['_id']
+      end
+
+      # alias for self['_rev']      
+      def rev
+        self['_rev']
+      end
+
+      # returns true if the document has never been saved
+      def new_document?
+        !rev
+      end
+    
+      # Saves the document to the db using create or update. Also runs the :save
+      # callbacks. Sets the <tt>_id</tt> and <tt>_rev</tt> fields based on
+      # CouchDB's response.
+      # If <tt>bulk</tt> is <tt>true</tt> (defaults to false) the document is cached for bulk save.
+      def save(bulk = false)
+        raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required for saving" unless database
+        result = database.save_doc self, bulk
+        result['ok']
+      end
+
+      # Deletes the document from the database. Runs the :delete callbacks.
+      # Removes the <tt>_id</tt> and <tt>_rev</tt> fields, preparing the
+      # document to be saved to a new <tt>_id</tt>.
+      # If <tt>bulk</tt> is <tt>true</tt> (defaults to false) the document won't 
+      # actually be deleted from the db until bulk save.
+      def destroy(bulk = false)
+        raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to destroy" unless database
+        result = database.delete_doc(self, bulk)
+        if result['ok']
+          self['_rev'] = nil
+          self['_id'] = nil
+        end
+        result['ok']
+      end
+    
+      def copy(dest)
+        raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to copy" unless database
+        result = database.copy_doc(self, dest)
+        result['ok']
+      end
+    
+      def move(dest)
+        raise ArgumentError, "doc.database required to copy" unless database
+        result = database.move_doc(self, dest)
+        result['ok']
+      end
+    
+    end
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/core/document_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/core/document_spec.rb
index dc59dbf..8caf0cd 100644
--- a/spec/couchrest/core/document_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/couchrest/core/document_spec.rb
@@ -1,213 +1,241 @@
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../../spec_helper'
 
-describe CouchRest::Document, "[]=" do
-  before(:each) do
-    @doc = CouchRest::Document.new
-  end
-  it "should work" do
-    @doc["enamel"].should == nil
-    @doc["enamel"] = "Strong"
-    @doc["enamel"].should == "Strong"
-  end
-  it "[]= should convert to string" do
-    @doc["enamel"].should == nil
-    @doc[:enamel] = "Strong"
-    @doc["enamel"].should == "Strong"
-  end
-  it "should read as a string" do
-    @doc[:enamel] = "Strong"
-    @doc[:enamel].should == "Strong"
-  end
-end
+class Video < CouchRest::Document; end
 
-describe CouchRest::Document, "new" do
-  before(:each) do
-    @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
-  end
-  it "should create itself from a Hash" do
-    @doc["key"].should == [1,2,3]
-    @doc["more"].should == "values"
-  end
-  it "should not have rev and id" do
-    @doc.rev.should be_nil
-    @doc.id.should be_nil
-  end
-  it "should freak out when saving without a database" do
-    lambda{@doc.save}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
-  end
-end
-
-# move to database spec
-describe CouchRest::Document, "saving using a database" do
+describe CouchRest::Document do
+  
   before(:all) do
-    @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
-    @db = reset_test_db!    
-    @resp = @db.save_doc(@doc)
-  end
-  it "should apply the database" do
-    @doc.database.should == @db    
-  end
-  it "should get id and rev" do
-    @doc.id.should == @resp["id"]
-    @doc.rev.should == @resp["rev"]
-  end
-end
-
-describe CouchRest::Document, "bulk saving" do
-  before :all do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
+    @couch = CouchRest.new
+    @db    = @couch.database!(TESTDB)
   end
 
-  it "should use the document bulk save cache" do
-    doc = CouchRest::Document.new({"_id" => "bulkdoc", "val" => 3})
-    doc.database = @db
-    doc.save(true)
-    lambda { doc.database.get(doc["_id"]) }.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
-    doc.database.bulk_save
-    doc.database.get(doc["_id"])["val"].should == doc["val"]
-  end
-end
-
-describe "getting from a database" do
-  before(:all) do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
-    @resp = @db.save_doc({
-      "key" => "value"
-    })
-    @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
-  end
-  it "should return a document" do
-    @doc.should be_an_instance_of(CouchRest::Document)
-  end
-  it "should have a database" do
-    @doc.database.should == @db
-  end
-  it "should be saveable and resavable" do
-    @doc["more"] = "keys"
-    @doc.save
-    @db.get(@resp['id'])["more"].should == "keys"
-    @doc["more"] = "these keys"    
-    @doc.save
-    @db.get(@resp['id'])["more"].should == "these keys"
-  end
-end
-
-describe "destroying a document from a db" do
-  before(:all) do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
-    @resp = @db.save_doc({
-      "key" => "value"
-    })
-    @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
-  end
-  it "should make it disappear" do
-    @doc.destroy
-    lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should raise_error
-  end
-  it "should error when there's no db" do
-    @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
-    lambda{@doc.destroy}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
-  end
-end
-
-
-describe "destroying a document from a db using bulk save" do
-  before(:all) do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
-    @resp = @db.save_doc({
-      "key" => "value"
-    })
-    @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
-  end
-  it "should defer actual deletion" do
-    @doc.destroy(true)
-    @doc['_id'].should == nil
-    @doc['_rev'].should == nil
-    lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should_not raise_error
-    @db.bulk_save
-    lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should raise_error
-  end
-end
-
-describe "copying a document" do
-  before :each do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
-    @resp = @db.save_doc({'key' => 'value'})
-    @docid = 'new-location'
-    @doc = @db.get(@resp['id'])
-  end
-  describe "to a new location" do
+  describe "[]=" do
+    before(:each) do
+      @doc = CouchRest::Document.new
+    end
     it "should work" do
-      @doc.copy @docid
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+      @doc["enamel"].should == nil
+      @doc["enamel"] = "Strong"
+      @doc["enamel"].should == "Strong"
     end
-    it "should fail without a database" do
-      lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"not"=>"a real doc"}).copy}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+    it "[]= should convert to string" do
+      @doc["enamel"].should == nil
+      @doc[:enamel] = "Strong"
+      @doc["enamel"].should == "Strong"
+    end
+    it "should read as a string" do
+      @doc[:enamel] = "Strong"
+      @doc[:enamel].should == "Strong"
     end
   end
-  describe "to an existing location" do
-    before :each do
-      @db.save_doc({'_id' => @docid, 'will-exist' => 'here'})
-    end
-    it "should fail without a rev" do
-      lambda{@doc.copy @docid}.should raise_error(RestClient::RequestFailed)
-    end
-    it "should succeed with a rev" do
-      @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
-      @doc.copy "#{@docid}?rev=#{@to_be_overwritten['_rev']}"
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
-    end
-    it "should succeed given the doc to overwrite" do
-      @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
-      @doc.copy @to_be_overwritten
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
-    end
-  end
-end
 
-describe "MOVE existing document" do
-  before :each do
-    @db = reset_test_db!
-    @resp = @db.save_doc({'key' => 'value'})
-    @docid = 'new-location'
-    @doc = @db.get(@resp['id'])
-  end
-  describe "to a new location" do
-    it "should work" do
-      @doc.move @docid
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
-      lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+  describe  "default database" do
+    it "should be set using use_database on the model" do
+      Video.new.database.should be_nil
+      Video.use_database @db
+      Video.new.database.should == @db
+      Video.use_database nil
     end
-    it "should fail without a database" do
-      lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"not"=>"a real doc"}).move}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
-      lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"_id"=>"not a real doc"}).move}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+    
+    it "should be overwritten by instance" do
+      db = @couch.database('test')
+      article = Video.new
+      article.database.should be_nil
+      article.database = db
+      article.database.should_not be_nil
+      article.database.should == db
     end
   end
-  describe "to an existing location" do
+
+  describe  "new" do
+    before(:each) do
+      @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
+    end
+    it "should create itself from a Hash" do
+      @doc["key"].should == [1,2,3]
+      @doc["more"].should == "values"
+    end
+    it "should not have rev and id" do
+      @doc.rev.should be_nil
+      @doc.id.should be_nil
+    end
+    it "should freak out when saving without a database" do
+      lambda{@doc.save}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+    end
+  end
+
+  # move to database spec
+  describe  "saving using a database" do
+    before(:all) do
+      @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
+      @db = reset_test_db!    
+      @resp = @db.save_doc(@doc)
+    end
+    it "should apply the database" do
+      @doc.database.should == @db    
+    end
+    it "should get id and rev" do
+      @doc.id.should == @resp["id"]
+      @doc.rev.should == @resp["rev"]
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe  "bulk saving" do
+    before :all do
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+    end
+
+    it "should use the document bulk save cache" do
+      doc = CouchRest::Document.new({"_id" => "bulkdoc", "val" => 3})
+      doc.database = @db
+      doc.save(true)
+      lambda { doc.database.get(doc["_id"]) }.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+      doc.database.bulk_save
+      doc.database.get(doc["_id"])["val"].should == doc["val"]
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "getting from a database" do
+    before(:all) do
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+      @resp = @db.save_doc({
+        "key" => "value"
+      })
+      @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
+    end
+    it "should return a document" do
+      @doc.should be_an_instance_of(CouchRest::Document)
+    end
+    it "should have a database" do
+      @doc.database.should == @db
+    end
+    it "should be saveable and resavable" do
+      @doc["more"] = "keys"
+      @doc.save
+      @db.get(@resp['id'])["more"].should == "keys"
+      @doc["more"] = "these keys"    
+      @doc.save
+      @db.get(@resp['id'])["more"].should == "these keys"
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "destroying a document from a db" do
+    before(:all) do
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+      @resp = @db.save_doc({
+        "key" => "value"
+      })
+      @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
+    end
+    it "should make it disappear" do
+      @doc.destroy
+      lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should raise_error
+    end
+    it "should error when there's no db" do
+      @doc = CouchRest::Document.new("key" => [1,2,3], :more => "values")    
+      lambda{@doc.destroy}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  describe "destroying a document from a db using bulk save" do
+    before(:all) do
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+      @resp = @db.save_doc({
+        "key" => "value"
+      })
+      @doc = @db.get @resp['id']
+    end
+    it "should defer actual deletion" do
+      @doc.destroy(true)
+      @doc['_id'].should == nil
+      @doc['_rev'].should == nil
+      lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should_not raise_error
+      @db.bulk_save
+      lambda{@db.get @resp['id']}.should raise_error
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe "copying a document" do
     before :each do
-      @db.save_doc({'_id' => @docid, 'will-exist' => 'here'})
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+      @resp = @db.save_doc({'key' => 'value'})
+      @docid = 'new-location'
+      @doc = @db.get(@resp['id'])
     end
-    it "should fail without a rev" do
-      lambda{@doc.move @docid}.should raise_error(RestClient::RequestFailed)
-      lambda{@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should_not raise_error
+    describe "to a new location" do
+      it "should work" do
+        @doc.copy @docid
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+      end
+      it "should fail without a database" do
+        lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"not"=>"a real doc"}).copy}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+      end
     end
-    it "should succeed with a rev" do
-      @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
-      @doc.move "#{@docid}?rev=#{@to_be_overwritten['_rev']}"
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
-      lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+    describe "to an existing location" do
+      before :each do
+        @db.save_doc({'_id' => @docid, 'will-exist' => 'here'})
+      end
+      it "should fail without a rev" do
+        lambda{@doc.copy @docid}.should raise_error(RestClient::RequestFailed)
+      end
+      it "should succeed with a rev" do
+        @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
+        @doc.copy "#{@docid}?rev=#{@to_be_overwritten['_rev']}"
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+      end
+      it "should succeed given the doc to overwrite" do
+        @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
+        @doc.copy @to_be_overwritten
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+      end
     end
-    it "should succeed given the doc to overwrite" do
-      @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
-      @doc.move @to_be_overwritten
-      newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
-      newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
-      lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+  end
+
+  describe "MOVE existing document" do
+    before :each do
+      @db = reset_test_db!
+      @resp = @db.save_doc({'key' => 'value'})
+      @docid = 'new-location'
+      @doc = @db.get(@resp['id'])
+    end
+    describe "to a new location" do
+      it "should work" do
+        @doc.move @docid
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+        lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+      end
+      it "should fail without a database" do
+        lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"not"=>"a real doc"}).move}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+        lambda{CouchRest::Document.new({"_id"=>"not a real doc"}).move}.should raise_error(ArgumentError)
+      end
+    end
+    describe "to an existing location" do
+      before :each do
+        @db.save_doc({'_id' => @docid, 'will-exist' => 'here'})
+      end
+      it "should fail without a rev" do
+        lambda{@doc.move @docid}.should raise_error(RestClient::RequestFailed)
+        lambda{@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should_not raise_error
+      end
+      it "should succeed with a rev" do
+        @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
+        @doc.move "#{@docid}?rev=#{@to_be_overwritten['_rev']}"
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+        lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+      end
+      it "should succeed given the doc to overwrite" do
+        @to_be_overwritten = @db.get(@docid)
+        @doc.move @to_be_overwritten
+        newdoc = @db.get(@docid)
+        newdoc['key'].should == 'value'
+        lambda {@db.get(@resp['id'])}.should raise_error(RestClient::ResourceNotFound)
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/couchrest/core/server_spec.rb b/spec/couchrest/core/server_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a23e10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/couchrest/core/server_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../../spec_helper'
+
+describe CouchRest::Server do
+  
+  before(:all) do
+    @couch = CouchRest::Server.new
+  end
+  
+  after(:all) do
+    @couch.available_databases.each do |ref, db|
+      db.delete!
+    end
+  end
+  
+  describe "available databases" do
+    it "should let you add more databases" do
+      @couch.available_databases.should be_empty
+      @couch.define_available_database(:default, "cr-server-test-db")
+      @couch.available_databases.keys.should include(:default)
+    end
+    
+    it "should verify that a database is available" do
+      @couch.available_database?(:default).should be_true
+      @couch.available_database?("cr-server-test-db").should be_true
+      @couch.available_database?(:matt).should be_false
+    end
+    
+    it "should let you set a default database" do
+      @couch.default_database = 'cr-server-test-default-db'
+      @couch.available_database?(:default).should be_true
+    end
+  end
+  
+end
\ No newline at end of file