[crucifiction]

If cumulative happiness over your life is the goal then the first one is clearly the wrong approach. The probability that you will die/become incapacitated/have health issues before you can either build up or enjoy for a long period of time that F-U money puts a discount on the entire end state.

[Retra]

Why would cumulative happiness be a goal? Happiness is not a things that accumulates.

[sliverstorm]

Looking forward to the next 100 days, which is your preference?

- That you be really happy 2 days

- That you be fairly happy 90 days

[yoplait_]

... Time spent happy does accumulate.

That means he wants to have spent a life being happy as much as possible.

[Retra]

No, memories accumulate. And in my very normal and apparently common experience, rose colored glasses and "I earned my success by struggling" make up for any past lack of happiness I've experienced. Those memories are white-washed unless you've had some severe trauma.

So the only thing that really matters is if you currently happy, or if you are about to become happy. Nothing accumulates.

[yoplait_]

if memories accumulate, something accumulates.

If you're the kind of person that likes to go up the ladder, every step up provides you with happiness so I don't think your story is a counter example.