In my free time, I’ve had the chance to pick up a few books—some related to my LiA and others just for pleasure. The NAPF headquarters, where we work and live, is a house full of history: everywhere you turn there are pictures of the organization’s past, books written by its founding board, and posters from events they’ve hosted. I’ve loved exploring the house and finding new titles or pieces of history to be intrigued by. One afternoon, while reading in the library, I even came across framed proclamations and resolutions that I realized would be useful in our discussions with the city council!

Outside of the house, I enjoy going on bike rides—especially to the beach—and trying new coffee shops in the area. Santa Barbara has its own cycling app, BCycle, which I’ve been using to explore the city on wheels. Near the headquarters, there are plenty of bakeries and coffee shops that I’ve tried before and after work, giving me a better sense of the town. I’ve also loved reading at the beach, spending time in local parks, and walking through different neighborhoods each day to get to know the city. More recently, I’ve started taking care of dogs through the Rover app, which has been another fun way to explore while also spending time with pets. Below are some photos of the dogs I took care of!