The Odyessey details the story of these two mortals who are aided by the grey-eyed Goddess Athena every step of the way. Granted Odysseus has a bit further to travel to get home but Penelope is stuck with a bunch of violent suitors pillaging her home while she's trying to keep it together for her lost husband. 
Not a lot of people today would bother to do what these two did; but the Gods are a bit harder to contact these days.