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by ppeetteerr 3031 days ago
If you look at the happiness income in East Asia, you'll note it's higher than in the US. This indicates that the value is not absolute (things you need to be happy) but it's relative to the area.

The best indicator of happiness related to income I have seen concluded that the income is relative to the income of your peers: if they make more money, you will be less happy, if they make less, you will be more happy. This goes well with the idea that people feel more fortunate when they are around people who are less fortunate.

In short, if you want to feel happy about your life, hang out around people who earn less.
3 comments
ntsplnkv2 3031 days ago
Do people really care that much about the people they're around?

I've always wanted nicer things-not because I have to compete with my neighbor, though...

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gowld 3031 days ago
Having wealthy friends creates wealth for you. Wealthy professional friends means free medical/legal/financial advice, fancy homes to visit, fancy tools and toys to borrow, all things you can't get from poor friends.
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tonyedgecombe 3031 days ago
On the other hand it would be rather sad to start selecting your friends based on their wealth.
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AstralStorm 3030 days ago
Except everyone does it all the time. Friendships are assortative with few exceptions. (Just like most couples.)
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moveyourmouse 3031 days ago
> In short, if you want to feel happy about your life, hang out around people who earn less.

This doesn't match my experience at all. I feel best when I'm around those who are equal to me (in both income and wealth, because income alone is kind of less interesting).

It's an empathy/social norms thing. I work about half the year, sometimes less, and spend the rest of the year on a mix of personal projects and travel.

Explaining that to someone who works a checkout 50 hours a week, who learns their rota a week out, and might have a few weeks off in a year, is frustrating. (I was there, once).

It doesn't make me feel lucky - it makes me feel that most people are in a terrible place - it makes me unwilling to engage socially for fear of appearing an out of touch prat (the reality is that I'm almost too in-touch...!)

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