[Physicist]

It's easy to list the things that happy people do, but tough to say that doing these things will make people happy. While it may be true that happy people are less materialistic than unhappy people, it doesn't follow that "Materialism is toxic for happiness." It seems more likely that unhappy people will turn to acquisition as a form of solace.

I'm convinced that happiness is largely a function of personality (whether it's a result of nature or nurture I can't say). I'm one of those "naturally happy" people whose mood just defaults to being very happy unless something actively drags it down. It wasn't until I was married that I truly understood that not everybody is like that.

[Old Professer]

I'm convinced that happiness is largely a function of personality (whether it's a result of nature or nurture I can't say). I'm one of those "naturally happy" people whose mood just defaults to being very happy unless something actively drags it down. It wasn't until I was married that I truly understood that not everybody is like that.

Just in case we don't hear from you in a while, does your wife lurk on FR?

[edwin hubble]

While it may be true that happy people are less materialistic than unhappy people, it doesn't follow that "Materialism is toxic for happiness." It seems more likely that unhappy people will turn to acquisition as a form of solace.

Actually, studies worldwide show a strong tendency to 'default' to a certain moderate level of happiness. Rich or poor (materialistic or not, first world or fourth world) the pattern is the same. Most self-report being happy. There are only a few national exceptions (a couple of small countries with a pattern of low happiness). Probably a selected genetic tendency toward optimism.