By that logic, the galaxy should be partly colonized already by civilizations that have been around longer than we have. We're orbiting a second generation star, so every being that evolved under the first generation stars should be billions of years ahead of us in technology, right?
That would require a civilization to actually have existed for a long enough time to be millions/billions of years ahead of us without having gone extinct. They would also have to exist in sufficient proximity of us.
Who knows how many galaxies (if any) are already partially or even fully colonized, but simply beyond our reach? We can only see as far as the light allows us to. And if the actual, rather than just the observable, universe is actually expanding faster than light that would make it virtually impossible to even attempt reaching some places. Given the potentially infinite size of the universe it seems potentially infinitely improbable for such a civilization not to exist in some place. But we know for fact that we haven't really seen shit yet. Maybe we got lucky and we're the first to get a shot, or maybe we're unlucky and just happened to be dropped in a place with nobody else close by.
The upper speed of light and hence travel for all matter in the forms currently accessible to us means we simply cannot travel to or even observe the expanses of universe. Like Vod said, its sobering and completely disappointing to realize that. But we don't want that right.
We want a scenario where these travels and observations are possible. That leaves one possibility. We as a civilization will need to to exist in a different form. A form where the laws of this "present matter" world don't apply. It becomes almost metaphysical and goes into the realm of spirituality but the more i think of it, the more i am convinced that there needs to be higher "planes of existence" where these physical laws that limit us to "speed of light" won't apply.
Like Dr. Manhattan from the Watchmen..
Given that there is a possibility to move to such a plane of existence, any civilization would probably need to exist for millions of years before thats possible. Its clear that we cannot exist on planet earth for millions of years. But maybe if we branch out and terraform enough planetary bodies, we can hope to survive long enough and become the super sentient beings that would be capable of Inter-galactic travel. So Elon is the first pioneer of this endeavour and Mars would be our first stop on this long road.
This all sounds completely mad but I don't see any other way that its possible..
Ohh and I am glad that a topic i started finally got some traction. Thanks to you Vod and BTCMillionaire..👍..I am writing this on a phone. Hope the formatting doesn't come out all trashy.