You may find the following quote interesting. The sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. It is an almost irresistible temptation to believe with Bede and Edwin that there must be something for us outside the banqueting hall. The honor of resisting this temptation is only a thin substitute for the consolations of religion, but is not entirely without satisfactions of its own.
People have a very strong drive to survive.
Almost anyone would love to continue this life after death if it were available. We know better now than Bede and Edwin did then. Either side of the hall there is not even a winter storm or wintery world for anyone.