What I like about space is how egalitarian it can be. For the most part, it doesn't have the same territorial legacies that places on Earth have (with the exception of Cold War politics, I suppose). It feels to me like the one place we have left where have the potential to work together primarily as human beings interested in bettering humanity as a whole rather than national citizens trying to further political or economic doctrines. I think this idea is perfectly encapsulated in a story I recall reading about the Apollo 11 astronauts on their world tour after returning from the Moon. Everywhere they went, the general reaction of people was "we did it." Not "America did it" or "the West did it." I find that really incredible. There's an American flag on the surface of the Moon, but the world saw it as a human achievement first and foremost.

My partner (an architect) and I are definitely city people, and LA is a lot of city to explore. One of our favorite LA activities is going out to movies at small, independent movie theaters (Vidiots in Eagle Rock is a particular favorite). We also enjoy traveling, both around California and the world when we get the opportunity. But for the most part, when I'm not conducting research, I am probably hanging out in my apartment playing my viola, reading a book (though since I started my PhD studies it's been mostly papers instead), or enjoying a coffee.