Could we be one of the OLDEST civilizations in the galaxy?

Let me first say.. I don't believe in the "laws" of physics.. They all
seem to fall apart at the quantum level.. But we do know the physical
restraints of our bodies to travel (or at least accelerate)at light
speeds.. Maybe some fraction of light speed could eventually get us
around the galaxy.. But like you pointed out, it would take hundreds
of years to get very far.. Maybe with cryogenic hibernation,
generation ships, or extended long lives this will be possible.. But
who would we be by the time we got there?? In cryogenics, everything
and everyone you left behind would either be gone or changed in major
ways.. In generational type ships, most of the people that finally
arrive at their destination would be multiple generations removed from
the original gene pool.. And with extended life.. Well.. They would be
real old. :) Then there is the long term effects of interstellar
travel.. We don't know what these are, but there is sure to be some...

On a lighter side.. Let's just assume we have been visited by E.T.s..
Maybe these things I have pointed out could be the explanation for the
common descriptions of there appearance.. In which to me would
describe beings that have either been genetically designed for space
travel or possibly mutated from it... Either way, Not the thing I
think we would want to go through..

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, joe@... wrote: