Coming "Home" to the Pasadena area for Christmas.

Description

I am a professor/Roman archaeologist who grew up in La Canada (Dad was at JPL his entire career). I went to undergrad at UCSD and to USC for my docotrate - SoCal is most definitely in my blood! I now live in Maryland with my husband, who grew up on Orange Grove in Pasadena, went to the Naval Academy. He still in the Navy as a Navy captain and test pilot, though these days he would tell you that these days he "flies a desk" more than he flies planes. He will be joining me for the few days around Christmas. Most of my family and friends are still in the area, however they will all have full (and chaotic) houses for the holidays. Since I am combining work with pleasure on this trip, I'm looking for a somewhere of my own to stay while I visit with family and friends in the evening and conduct research at the Huntington Library on the weekdays. About me: I love to travel and do it frequently for research - I probably spend about 4-5 months out of every year overseas, which I seem to conveniently plan when something major needs to be done at our house (or so says my husband). I love skiing, which I'm decent at, surfing, which I'm terrible at, and basically anything that involves the ocean and the mountains but does not involve camping. :) I'm looking for a clean, well-appointed place to stay while I am in town that is within reasonable proximity to the Huntington Library. I will have a car, but prefer to steer clear of the freeway at rush hour as much as possible. I completely understand the possible discomfort engendered by having strangers in your home, as I would feel uneasy myself. My own home is my sanctuary, and I will treat your with the same respect I would expect were the situation reversed.