I really envy people who knows how to swim. Believe it or not, I am 24 years old now but I really don't know how to swim. No matter how hard I try, I really could not swim. But, even though I don't know how to, I am still alive and kicking.
For me, the importance of learning how to swim depends on your location. If you live near shores and rivers, and you depend on the waters for livelihood, then it is very important to learn how to swim, to survive in case something bad happens.
However, in my case, living in an upland community with no big rivers nearby, I really think it is not important to learn how to swim. Where should I apply my knowledge if I know how in the first place?
There are many people actually who knows how to swim but were not able to survive long in water and there are some who does not know how to swim but survived in a water disaster.
One thing I believe is true is that learning how to swim is not very necessary to survive.