Accomplishments, put into perspective

So I have just finished a mahvelous dinner with several new friends. One is a nationally-recognized chorister and musician (nationally, as in UK). One has climbed the Himalayas whilst on holiday. This all leads me to reflect on the following: in the states, folks such as us who go away to live in a castle for four months attract a great deal of admiration for traveling to the sort of village from which people escape to go do interesting things all around the world. What is to be said about arriving someplace from which long-time residents hope to escape?