Thank you...it all makes sense....Kalidurga, your metaphor of the car is helpful and yes it's clear...

In some ways I have it easy because I have internal gears...so I push a button to go into lower gears and use a thumb lever to go into higher gears..so there is never any mistake.....

it's not the numbers I'm thinking about so much as how much resistance on the cranks I want /need...I've even been using my higher gears more in general ...

A hill near my house is funny because I can't even get off my street without going up one...!!!
But I'm gonna try spinning a LITTLE more..I was just so happy to find I could get up the hill in a higher gear with less agony...

I am just getting into shape after many years of bumsitting.... kind of thrilled about it too.