Money Can Buy Happiness - to a point

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

I think that's a wise assessment.
Many of the people I've met who seem to have "happiness" were those who valued/cultivated their personal relationships with family and others over their desire for more "stuff/toys", which in many cases bring a fleeting joy/smile/satisfaction, but soon just get packed away.

Well said, and bang-on based on the finding of the longest-running study into the question. The Harvard Study on Adult Development has been running continuously since the 1930s. The bottom line is that it is the quality of our human connections which best correlate with happiness. As the current authors wrote:

Quote:

“Contrary to what many people think, it’s not career achievement, or exercise, or a healthy diet,” write the authors—though those things matter, too, they add. Instead, “one thing continuously demonstrates its broad and enduring importance: Good relationships.” ... “People who are more connected to family, to friends, and to community, are happier and physically healthier than people who are less well connected,”

[Kettlewell]

Well said, and bang-on based on the finding of the longest-running study into the question. The Harvard Study on Adult Development has been running continuously since the 1930s. The bottom line is that it is the quality of our human connections which best correlate with happiness.

And, I think this ties into other discussions we see on this forum, like why do cruisers stop cruising. In addition to maintenance, which I think is the #1 reason after health issues, I see lots of cruisers who give up when the significant other doesn't like the lifestyle, or misses their friends and family at home too much. The longest term cruisers I have met were mostly couples who have been married a long, long time. Yes, there are exceptions, but not so many. Back in the day when people used to read books I read most of them, and I was always struck by how it was mostly happily married couples (Smeetons, Roths, Hiscocks, Pardeys) doing it. Sure, there are some famous singlehanders, but not so many that did it for the longterm. They are mostly known for some spectacular voyage or two.

[GordMay]

A Genie once granted me a single wish, so I said: “I just want to be happy”.
So now, I’m 3 Ft tall, living in a little cottage, with 6 other dwarfs, working in a mine, and singing “Whistle while you work”.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by EraLuetris

Agreed, but let's not forget that this works after BASIC physical needs are met. A large portion of the planet's population still struggles with minimal incomes and/or debts. Consequently, their relationships are already suffering.
Otherwise, yes, humans are social animals and require interaction and support from other members of their "pack".

Agreed. I just wrote that... about five posts earlier .

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

And, I think this ties into other discussions we see on this forum, like why do cruisers stop cruising. In addition to maintenance, which I think is the #1 reason after health issues, I see lots of cruisers who give up when the significant other doesn't like the lifestyle, or misses their friends and family at home too much. The longest term cruisers I have met were mostly couples who have been married a long, long time. Yes, there are exceptions, but not so many. ...

Completely agree! Cruising is a vagabond lifestyle. People come and people go. Without a solid, and stable, relationship at the core, the centre cannot hold. We are, as EraLuetris says, social animals. Even the most solitary of us needs some solid human connections. It's no wonder we pair-bond for long periods of time -- some (the lucky ones) for life.

My spouse and I (of 36 years now ... just celebrated!) are partners on, and off the water. I couldn't imagine living this life alone.

[MicHughV]

Too true Mike, my wife is a gem and I wouldn't trade her for the world.
On that account alone, I must the richest man on the planet !!

[Kettlewell]

Coming up on our 42nd wedding anniversary! Just this morning, first thing as I was drinking my coffee, my wife said she had been thinking about our summer cruising plans and where we should go...

[davil]

Coming up on our 42nd wedding anniversary! Just this morning, first thing as I was drinking my coffee, my wife said she had been thinking about our summer cruising plans and where we should go...
__________________
JJKettlewell


Too true Mike, my wife is a gem and I wouldn't trade her for the world.
On that account alone, I must the richest man on the planet !!
MicHughV

===========================================
best answers I found
no statistics needed

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Mazlow's Hierarchy for the win.

Where money detracts from happiness is when the pursuit of money elbows out other important needs in the triangle: especially relationships, self-actualization, creativity.

Exactly. Life, like most things, is a balance. Sadly, too many forget that or never realized it.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Coming up on our 42nd wedding anniversary! ...

Belated, happy anniversary, to you & yours!


Last year, I bought my wife a fridge, for our fifty-fifth anniversary.
I know it wasn't a great gift, but I loved seeing her face light up, when she opened it.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Last year, I bought my wife a fridge, for our fifty-fifth anniversary.

Couldn't you have just got her a new washtub and scrub board?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

Couldn't you have just got her a new washtub and scrub board?

That's what I got her, for our 28TH.
I got her a Vacuum Cleaner, for our second [I think it was].
I know - I'm a hopeless romantic.

[GordMay]

How the brain responds to reward is linked to socioeconomic background [SES]

An MIT study [1] finds the brains of children, who grow up in less affluent households, are less responsive to rewarding experiences, a critical factor in motivation and attention.
The findings suggest that lower SES circumstances, may prompt the brain to adapt to the environment, by dampening its response to rewards, which are often scarcer, in low SES environments.

In other words: the wealthy are better adapted, to enjoy happiness. They expect it.

More about ➥ https://news.mit.edu/2024/how-brain-...scover_science

[1] “Striatal and Behavioral Responses to Reward Vary by Socioeconomic Status in Adolescents” ~ by Alexandra L Decker et al
➥ https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/153394

[ChrisPuget]

In the vernacular [common, colloquial language], we often refer to these as “happiness”.


Vernacular usage:

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/5807b34...d-d70143e1bd43

[Motorsailer4me]

My friend Henry kept his Cessna at an airport in the famous Hamptons on Long Island. One day he called me on his cell phone and said "Get this...A privately owned Boing 757 just landed. A truck pulled up for luggage and a helicopter landed by the stairway leading down from the plane. A guy, his pretty wife, and a little girl came down the stairs, got on the helicopter, and flew off."

I said "Henry, but are those people really happy?"

He said "Yeah...they looked REALLY happy"

[Motorsailer4me]

4 months ago my wife said, "We HAVE to buy a bigger boat!" She is a keeper.