mrstickball on 06 April 2009
How long are you expecting to live? 
As it stands, Mars is just too far away, and offers too little for it to happen soon/quickly. If you were going to live another.....65-70 years, permanent colonies may be near to reality. However, what's the romanticism about Mars? The moon is a much more viable and valuable destination that will see colonization sooner. It's a lot closer, and should see a research station by 2030, and a permanent settlement by 2050.
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
