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Comment by mannicken | Hacker News Reader

Looking back at my life, when was I the happiest? It certainly wasn't when I got the paycheck or got a new job with better pay, or bought a new car, or bought second laptop.

I remember my happiest memories to be in school, surrounded by careless, daring, funny, and oft-swearing people. In classes, but not only in them.

I remember I was happy when I was running track and cross-country. A bunch of guys and girls running on the side of the road on a sunny day at a decent pace: chasing cars and talking. We didn't give two shits about money or things, these things seemed to have fatten us, make us less free. Even shirts were too much!

Yes, social situations around physical activities were peaks of my happiness.

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Me too. My fondest memories were coming home to a fraternity house where 40 of us lived together. There was always something going on. What great times! We were either learning something new, hanging out together, playing football in the yard, playing bridge, fixing up our house, partying, chasing women, etc., etc., etc. Lunch and dinner served every day in the dining room. No shopping, no mortgage, no one depending on us for so much, and no cubicle!

I've been trying for years to recreate that atmosphere in my adult life, but without much success. I haven't given up, though...

I think you pretty much have to go back to school for that. That's my plan for when I have enough money to not have to work for a living, I can then go and be a professional life long student.

I've found traveling, and staying at hostels and partying with other backpackers, is really good about recapturing that college feeling.

I've read bios and/or seen interviews with a lot of famous older people. Invariably they mention that the best things in their lives were not about money at all. Just today I was reading that Edith Hamilton ('Mythology') was happiest about being made a citizen of Athens. Joe Campbell mentioned a race in college. Etc.

Money seems to be the best thing for people who need to feel secure. But for many people, who thrive despite the ups and downs of an insecure life, 'happiness' is found in intangibles... relationships instead of things. Family. Friends. Music. The outdoors. The arts.

My own 'best time' actually happened when I'd just left college and had almost nothing. 'Travel' meant thumbing a ride. Of course, being young, healthy and free is great. Also you don't know so much, and sometimes ignorance IS bliss. And sometimes we let ourselves get saddled with too many responsibilities, which can be a burden for a conscientious person.

Looking back at my life, when was I the happiest? It certainly wasn't when I got the paycheck or got a new job with better pay, or bought a new car, or bought second laptop.

Looking back at my life, I find that this is exactly opposite for me. Every period in my life that I was really happy, I had just gotten or was still in a high-paying job, had low stress and no worries (because of the aforementioned good job), was able to buy a new car or new laptop, etc.

Most years of my life, I made less than 20K, and the happy times were (and are, because I'm damn happy right now) all above 50K.

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