I think this is a harder question than it would be in most other sci-fi universes. By the fact that, at least during the Trilogy. The galaxy is a very hostile place for humans. Living in any contemporary sense leads to scenarios like Arcadia in Halo Wars or Stomping on the Heels of a Fuss from Evolutions.

That being said, in my fantasy Halo life, I would love to be among the other pilots in Saber Team, or any fighter pilot squad.... Or I could be part of the pirates who hide silent from the Covies in the dark with all the cool stolen UNSC tech.

It's tough, you can't just live in the Halo Universe though. You either need to be fully with the UNSC (pilot, serviceman), or fully estranged from their presence (pirate). I could never be a normal citizen living under an increasingly overwhelm human governmental power... at least not for very long.

But maybe that's what makes the Halo story so powerful to me, there's really nothing to stop these forces of nature, but the few men and women left with the capability.

(God, I miss Halo 3)