[thunderbong]

Wonderful article. Lots of interesting observations and studies cited.

The last paragraph -

> So, if you want to know the secret of a long and happy life, money is not the right answer. Get rid of the takeaway in front of the telly, and bin the hasty sandwich at your desk — the important thing is to take time out with people you know and talk to them over a beer or two, even that bottle of Prosecco if you really must. There’s nothing quite like a convivial evening wrapped around a pint to give you health, happiness and a sense of wellbeing.

[mads]

I dont know..

Personally I dont really enjoy talking to other people. People used to tell me to join the gym to meet people, get out for a coffee and a drink and all that stuff, so I did, but truth is that I dont really enjoy it. I think it is a hassle and boring to talk to people. Sorry..

I used to think there was something wrong with me, since I had such a hard time fitting in, but then I realized that I am just different and I dont need all that socializing. Life got much better after that realization.

I used to like drinking also for the sake of getting drunk, but that urge faded also for some reason. The socializing made me want to drink probably.

[Broken_Hippo]

The horrible thing about that last paragraph is that doing the thing - talking to folks over a beer or two - requires money. Not lots of money, but some money. It requires transportation and, if you don't have it, you shouldn't have the beer. And so on.

If there is a population of folks that have trouble affording food every month, that sort of simple happiness isn't available. Money - to a point - is part of the answer.

[rendall]

I once felt the same way. And maybe in the future I will come around to that way of thinking again.

The problem is not money, per se in my view. I'm coming to believe now though that humans have a baseline of social health in the same way that there is a baseline of physical health - and that baseline health is rather reasonable and flexible. Money correlates somewhat with social health.

If someone heart pounds and they get dizzy whenever they stand up, then something is clearly wrong and they should see a doctor. Normally healthy humans should be able to stand and walk around at least.

Likewise, if someone cannot afford (their society's equivalent of) a pint of beer with friends, it means that something has gone wrong: being able to socialize with friends is the baseline, however socializing is defined in that society. A person unable to afford to socialize is a socially ill person.

There is absolutely nothing morally wrong with being poor just as there is nothing morally wrong with being ill. But it is not baseline. Moving the baseline expectation from "pint of beer" to "playing musical instruments" or "telling entertaining tales" or "making costumes" or "listening warmly" will still mean that some people will still be unable to afford to socialize.

[downerending]

Discovered later in life that being lit is about the only time I really feel like a normal human being (socially and emotionally). And certainly people seem to enjoy conversing with me far more when we're both drinking.

Is that awful? I guess, but lots of things in life are.

[mapcars]

>the important thing is to take time out with people you know and talk to them over a beer or two

This is superficial because it does not last nor does it change your experience of life profoundly. It only useful to find comfort in a way you see the world, this is why people you know is a requirement. Strangers will destroy your fantasies in many ways.

>There’s nothing quite like a convivial evening wrapped around a pint to give you health, happiness and a sense of wellbeing.

If your sense of well-being is when 5 people confirm your opinions - this simply means you are still in your 20es.