I don't think many of us face the same sort of physical adventures our ancestors did, at least not on a daily basis.

We will never know exactly how many women disguised themselves as men and fought in the Civil War. At the close of the hostilities, it was estimated that approximately 400 women had managed to enlist, but this number is almost certainly too low.

A move to a different town or school gives us new places to explore, new people to meet; a lost pet means we have to organize a careful search; baby-sitting requires looking out for dangers a young child can't foresee; a car crash or fire demands that we get help immediately.

History often reads as a hard and grim experience. But people are remarkably resilient and funny, even when the going is very hard.