[bumby]

Yes, that's part of the problem with defining happiness in terms of external status and materialistic wealth. Hedonic adaptation tends to erode it rather quickly. With that said, happiness is a subjective measure so of course the measurement will be relative.

But that still diverts from the issue. It wasn't about relative wealth. It was about the claim that the primary driver of happiness is housing. Absent any additional evidence, it doesn't seem to be the case.