I grew up in California and was always drawn to nature, from opportunities at the beach where the ocean meets the shore and all the life one sees there to the redwood forests and mountains and the different life one finds there. And it’s not just learning knowledge about life in nature there; also, I have always appreciated the spiritual connection that occurs when immersed in nature. I graduated from UCLA in biology, became a physician, and after 36 years retired to Tucson in 2020. I chose to apply to SCVN after learning about the program. It seemed to be a perfect fit for me and a great way to start the next chapter in my life!