55.29: Spain: Ordesa Monte Y Perdido National Park, a hike of vast proportions on Faya de Pelay. 55.30 Puenta Santa Helena.

Our shortest stay on the trip, 6 nights in Asin de Broto.
Spot Jenkins, she's definitely there maybe not all, but...
Invariably, a person embarks upon a course of action with thought and planning, not always though. Later, it’s not uncommon for such person to think deeply of the action and come to an understanding of what was undertaken and for what reason. Perhaps there is an instinct in a person knowing what needs to be undertaken but not quite comprehending the exact motivation and reasons. It seems to us that we are brought up with some very basic rules: A primary aspect is that a person should have a place to live on the planet. It makes sense, after all, even the so-called homeless people have somewhere to stay. At the extremes, we have the homeless and those that remain in one home, a house, condo, etc. for most of their lives. In between, are a host of positions including various sizes and degrees of opulence that cover from merely a bedroom to dozens, often to accommodate only two people. A few years ago, someone we knew well questioned us and said after all, 'it's in our DNA to have a fixed abode'—I suppose he hadn't met any gypsies...continues below. 

Steep climb in Ordesa.
Overpowering sights.

Going vertical.

St. Anton hike with a view into Torla, a third hike. 

  We crossed the river and headed directly upwards. The lateral distance seems much less than the vertical.
Could it be a view from our balcony? 

Puenta Santa Helena Trail.

A sighting we really enjoyed.

Another window into the world. 

 We were brought up, Americans might say, raised, to ascribe to living in a nice house which would allow for security, comfort, and provide a sense of belonging to the neighborhood and community. For some, I have to mention this, it is partly, a status symbol. We humans find it important to keep up with the Jones's—a very powerful motivator for the accumulation of material wealth. Who could fault such logic and good sense of the paragraph's opening sentence? We suppose we never questioned it as it seemed flawless in logic and custom. It still does. However, it does have downsides, too. Isn’t that a fundamental truth of life? Nothing is without disadvantages, even the most wonderful things. 

  A disadvantage of being grounded in a home, even one that provides great comfort and happiness, is that a person closes oneself off from the rest of the world. Logically, the more time spent in one place, the less time is available to spend in other places. Simple but perfect logic. Obviously, we don't mean completely closed off. This means that the more time at home, the less time available to explore, discover and experience the planet which we inhabit. Should we accept what seems to be common and true knowledge that the world is a wondrous place that cannot be explored and enjoyed in any lifetime, not even a fraction of it, aren’t we cutting ourselves off from adventure, growth, knowledge, learning, experience and a thousand other facets of life. 

 While Earth’s life is infinite, the human life is finite, so limited in time that it cannot even be measured as a proportion unless one computes it in terms of thousands of decimal places. What is 70 years, many spent as a baby and child and then as frail, elderly person relegated to the indoors expressed as a proportion of billions of years. 

  Should that not make a person wonder whether it is more productive, educational, rewarding and exciting to discover our greater home, Earth, than to limit ourselves to the walls surrounding us in our homes? While we can gain much information from remaining in one place through advanced technologies, it is no substitute for action, for doing, for being in motion, to deal with the dynamics of living. It’s a guarantee that it will not be comfortable. It’s filled with risks, plenty of challenges, sometimes danger and hostility but one will never be bored. 

  One will also reach highs that one could never envisage, would not experience in the ordinary course of life. A person will learn to change and adapt, gain an understanding of other cultures, nations and the workings of nature. The list of advantages is almost infinite. Perhaps the most positive aspect of all, especially should one be adventuring in the great outdoors, the wilderness, each day one will experience a miracle or two, maybe more. 

  In addition, what is particularly exciting, maybe interesting is a better description, is meeting many nationals from all walks of life. It provides an edge to living; it's refreshing; and it broadens the mind. We did realize no matter how wonderful one's friends, family and neighbors might be, people tend to live in homogenous societies which may include, inter alia, religious, race and other criteria that limits one's experiences. 

  Having a fixed abode is comfortable, seems to give a person direction in a way, but it also limits the individual. It cuts that person off from the rest of the world. And when one inhabits a world filled with wonders, that is indeed limiting. In conclusion, notwithstanding the foregoing, what really matters is that a person is satisfied with his/her lot and enjoys life—in fact, seizes it.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey