Happiest States............

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!
 
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.
 
Rustic23 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Good points.

Picture of Dawg
img_885078_0_6020482d2067beb8242f1ff479dc08bf.gif
 
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.
 
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. :)
 
W2R said:
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. :)
Click to expand...
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. :)
 
Since I'm in the "state of ER", I'm happy (regardless of where I reside)... :rolleyes:

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...
 
All but 2,7 and 10 are Right to Work States and that may well be a contributing factor as well.
 
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.
 
W2R said:
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. :)
Click to expand...

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.
 
ksr said:
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.
Click to expand...

I would be completely happy in a little cabin in the woods. Don't need much, just peace and quite. And not too far from the golf course.;)
Old%20Cabin%20In%20The%20Woods%20-%20I%20-%20Watermarked.jpg


Well.....maybe not that small but something more like this.
ar124348133745907.jpg
 
ziggy29 said:
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. :)
Click to expand...

ksr said:
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.
Click to expand...

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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DangerMouse said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
You can be happy anywhere, and you can be unhappy anywhere - even in LA.
 
ls99 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I'm not into ripple....I'm into champipple....
smiley-eatdrink058.gif
 
Dawg52 said:
Well, Mississippi might be poor as hell but we are happy.:whistle:

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
Click to expand...
Does that mean these are the most unhappy states? And look who's dead last...

40. Maryland
41. Pennsylvania
42. Rhode Island
43. Massachusetts
44. Ohio
45. Illinois
46. California
47. Indiana
48. Michigan
49. New Jersey
50. Connecticut
51. New York
 
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