The catch is that Earth doesn't stay around forever.  When the sun explodes and engulfs the Earth, what will you do?  Even if we have the ability to migrate to other planets, the universe itself doesn't stay around forever, either.  When the universe expands so fast that even molecular bonds are torn apart (or whatever the latest hypothesis is), our bodies will be torn apart with it.  We may live a long time, but not likely forever.

Kevin yes, I would have to accept that eventually I would suffer in the heat death of the universe. But oh what a ride it will be...

But then again, you never know. If I'm truly immortal, then I might still survive... this universe might spawn another one, and then another one. Who's to say the multiverse isn't eternal? A never-ending boiling pot of 'verses. :)

Richard One way to witness the end of the universe within your lifetime is traveling at light speed.  If your spaceship is traveling at light speed, time runs normally for you inside the spaceship, but infinitely fast outside it -- so fast that you will see the universe "fast-forward" to its end of life, all within seconds or less.  But then, Einstein's theories and all known physical laws may not even work at that point.

I think life is precious because it is fleeting.  It would be like going on vacation forever.  It isn't a vacation any more.  You just moved.  Without an end, you lose the urgency to take full advantage of it.  

I wouldn't accept immortality because I wouldn't trade away what comes after, sight unseen.  I might be tempted to add a couple of centuries, though.  :)

Kevin I have faith that science will eventually figure out faster-than-light travel. People once thought the sound barrier was impossible to break, and then Chuck Yeager proved otherwise. So who's to say? Maybe, like in Star Trek, we'll need to warp space itself. Or maybe, like in Star Wars, we'll need some kind of hyperdrive to slip into another dimension. Who knows? I just know that I want to be here to see it! :)

I also know there are companies that offer to cryogenically freeze your brain - or, if you have the money, your whole body - in the hope that someday, centuries from now, the technology will exist to bring you back. If I've got enough moola when I die, that might be an option. LOL. One of my favorite episodes of TNG is the one where they find people cryogenically frozen in a space capsule and Dr. Crusher thaws three of them out. Classic episode.

Why don't you come back later on an' you and me'll find us a couple o' low-mileage pit woofies and help 'em build a memory?

Matt I think the key to having immortality and yet still appreciating life would be to not know that you are immortal. To know that any day you could die. So is this your final day or do you still have another thousand years to go?

.... not the person that lives and dies on Cap'n Picard sugar cereal. Immortality only if any health complications are eliminated.

Richard  Well, I've thought about this before.  But being of the age where my joints sharply remind me that my days of youth are long gone, I cannot imagine crawling out of bed at 300 years old. So that's just one facet of being glad that life (this life) is temporary.

Well, I guess the whole point of immortality would have to hinge on having good health throughout it. What was that movie "Death Becomes Her" with Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, and Meryl Streep where they were immortal but as they were injured or damaged, parts of them would fall off? So we'd have to assume that you had the ability to regenerate from any injuries and your skin and your joints and stuff would stay healthy.

The problem with immortality is at some point all conversations have been had. Nothing really new to see. Not much new to do. You just become a bored Q.... :D

Jeffrey oh, I don't know about that. Times change, things evolve, there's always something new to talk about, especially in the technology industry, popular culture, or current events. There's always something new going on. Maybe I'm too young to be bored with everything. I'm only 52 LOL.

I was referring to Death Wish from Voyager Episode 34. 18th episode of season 2.  :D

Ah yes! The "standing out in the middle of a desert road" episode. :)