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Happiest States............
12-18-2009, 06:29 AM
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#1
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 6,142
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Happiest States............
Well, Mississippi might be poor as hell but we are happy. 
Happiest States Revealed by New Research - Yahoo! News
1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona
6. Mississippi
7. Montana
8. South Carolina
9. Alabama
10. Maine
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Full time wuss............
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12-18-2009, 07:22 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
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Not saying many of these States don't have wonderfully redeeming qualities, but hard to believe so much poverty in some of these States brings much happiness....just say'n.
However, glad Dawg52 is a happy camper!
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12-18-2009, 07:29 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Lake Livingston, Tx
Posts: 2,763
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Here is what I see as the fault in their study. If you take a $38,000 worker in New York, and compare that to a $38,000 a year worker in Louisiana, one is going to be living in poverty and the other close to a median income existence. That explains 1,4,6,8,9 and possibly 10 and 7 (I don't know much about their economies). As for 3 and 5 you have big retirement communities, where you would expect to find more 'happy' people, and a better chance they moved there to be happy. Nothing explains 2. Except the fact it is Hawaii.
Also, having traveled to some pretty dismal parts of this world, the one thing that always seemed strange is people living in mud huts or worse with great big smiles on their face.
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If it is after 5:00 when I post I reserve the right to disavow anything I posted.
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12-18-2009, 08:04 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 6,142
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustic23
Here is what I see as the fault in their study. If you take a $38,000 worker in New York, and compare that to a $38,000 a year worker in Louisiana, one is going to be living in poverty and the other close to a median income existence.
Also, having traveled to some pretty dismal parts of this world, the one thing that always seemed strange is people living in mud huts or worse with great big smiles on their face.
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Good points.
Picture of Dawg
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Full time wuss............
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12-18-2009, 08:09 AM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 2,908
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Aye, when you are hungry an' tired an' have no money it is difficult to ponder the way to self-actualization. So might as well be happy, and enjoy the soothing benefits of ripple.
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There must be moderation in everything, including moderation.
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12-18-2009, 08:19 AM
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#6
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 24,593
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They mentioned this on our local news, but also mentioned that the poll was taken before the Katrina disaster.
Louisiana is a poor state, but one of the nice things about it is that there really isn't any peer pressure to drive a fancy car or dress expensively. People just don't seem to care one way or the other. 
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"Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harborless immensities." - - H. Melville, 1851
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12-18-2009, 09:00 AM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,183
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12-18-2009, 09:30 AM
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#8
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Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,422
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That may well be true. I think a lot of the so-called "poor" states, or less educated states, or whatever you want to call them, have far less stress due to affluenza and a "keep up with the Joneses" mentality. Many of them might also be more spiritual in general and find comfort and satisfaction in ways other than money or stuff.
Heck, a lot of folks in those states might not even care about the stereotypes the more educated and wealthy states place on them as a bunch of backward rednecks.
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"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
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12-18-2009, 09:31 AM
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#9
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 3,756
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Since I'm in the "state of ER", I'm happy (regardless of where I reside)... 
Of course, since I turn 62 in a few weeks, I guess I can no longer claim that I'm a resident (of the ER state).
I'll just have to be happy to reside in the "old phart" state...
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12-18-2009, 09:40 AM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,183
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All but 2,7 and 10 are Right to Work States and that may well be a contributing factor as well.
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12-18-2009, 09:49 AM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 1,812
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I don't have any real knowledge of any of these states except for Hawaii and it just reinforces everything I have felt about Hawaii every time I have been there. People in Hawaii just don't seem so focussed on things, they seem to enjoy the sun and surf and appear to be happy.
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I be a girl, he's a boy. Think I maybe FIRED since July 08. Mid 40s, no kidlets. Actually am totally clueless as to what is going on with DH.
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12-18-2009, 10:16 AM
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#12
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
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We need to ask Nords if that is true, DangerMouse...
__________________
Please consider adopting a rescue animal. So very many need a furr-ever home and someone to love them! And if we all spay/neuter our pets there won't be an overpopulation to put to death.
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12-18-2009, 10:32 AM
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#13
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 498
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That is very appealing. I hope to find someplace like that when I leave this area (waiting for SO to retire so we can go). I live in an area that is completely the opposite - affluent, high COL, intensely consumeristic and materialistic. I often feel like a fish out of water and tend to remain quiet during conversations about the latest "must-have" item, restaurant, travel location, etc.
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12-18-2009, 11:11 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 6,142
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__________________
Full time wuss............
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12-18-2009, 11:43 AM
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#15
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 24,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy29
That may well be true. I think a lot of the so-called "poor" states, or less educated states, or whatever you want to call them, have far less stress due to affluenza and a "keep up with the Joneses" mentality. Many of them might also be more spiritual in general and find comfort and satisfaction in ways other than money or stuff.
Heck, a lot of folks in those states might not even care about the stereotypes the more educated and wealthy states place on them as a bunch of backward rednecks. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksr
That is very appealing. I hope to find someplace like that when I leave this area (waiting for SO to retire so we can go). I live in an area that is completely the opposite - affluent, high COL, intensely consumeristic and materialistic. I often feel like a fish out of water and tend to remain quiet during conversations about the latest "must-have" item, restaurant, travel location, etc.
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I got caught up in a lot of that when I was living in San Diego. Somehow I felt like less of a person there because I didn't have a Mercedes, designer clothes, or a diamond the size of a doorknob on my left ring finger. Maybe that was something I caused, or maybe it was due to the type of people I happened to know.
But anyway here in Louisiana, I just haven't felt any pressure one way or another from anybody whatsoever. I could buy a Mercedes if I wanted to, or drive an old compact car, and I would be surprised if anyone noticed or responded to me differently in either case.
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"Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harborless immensities." - - H. Melville, 1851
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12-18-2009, 11:59 AM
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#16
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Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 24,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DangerMouse
I don't have any real knowledge of any of these states except for Hawaii and it just reinforces everything I have felt about Hawaii every time I have been there. People in Hawaii just don't seem so focussed on things, they seem to enjoy the sun and surf and appear to be happy.
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I haven't lived in Hawaii since 1975, when I left home in my mid 20's. So, this may be outdated but I felt just as you describe while I was there. I spent more time out on the beach than anywhere, didn't care about things very much, and enjoyed life quite a bit. I especially enjoyed the natural beauty of the islands.
__________________
"Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harborless immensities." - - H. Melville, 1851
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12-18-2009, 12:32 PM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 7,208
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You can be happy anywhere, and you can be unhappy anywhere - even in LA.
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It's a pity to waste your life living the same tiny day over and over again. James Taylor
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 55% equity funds / 40% bond funds / 5% cash
approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
Target WR: approx 2.5%
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12-18-2009, 01:14 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Dallas 'burb
Posts: 8,522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ls99
Aye, when you are hungry an' tired an' have no money it is difficult to ponder the way to self-actualization. So might as well be happy, and enjoy the soothing benefits of ripple.
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I'm not into ripple....I'm into champipple.... 
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There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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12-18-2009, 02:07 PM
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#19
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gone traveling
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,862
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A little early today, aren't we? 
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12-18-2009, 02:11 PM
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#20
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gone traveling
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawg52
Good points.
Picture of Dawg
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Dawg, you've aged since your last photo...
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