Well now. That’s a great question to ask. Funny, the previous two answers were by folks who’ve never even been an astronaut. So let me give you the real “skinny” on this.

Was it fun? Heck yeah, it’s fun… most of the time anyway. I mean, holy cow, I got to fly T-38 jets. I went SCUBA diving off the coast of Florida, living underwater in the Aquarius Habitat for two weeks. I traveled to Russia, Japan, Canada, and Germany. I learned to speak Russian. I rode in parades. I was interviewed on TV programs and news shows. I gave commencement speeches to Hastings College, Iowa State University and University of Nebraska graduates. I ran the floor (embarrassingly) with the Harlem Globetrotters. I met celebrities like Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy, and gospel singer Steve Green. I met professional athletes like Dallas Keuchel, Geoff Blum, Andre Johnson, and Olympic Gold Medalists Jennie Finch and Curt Tomascevicz. Heck, I even shook hands with the Pope (not in a confessional mind you)!

Oh… and I went to space a couple of times, stayed there for about 167 days, performed 6 spacewalks, and pooped in 4 different spaceships.

What is more fun than that?!