TruF 

Acccording to the July 2008 issue of Consumer Reports on Health, "The odds of being happy increase by about 5 percent per decade, according to a Univerisity of Chicago researcher who analyzed 33 years of data from a comprehensive national survey. The study found that people in their 80s were much happier than those in their late 20s, regardless of gender or race. Other factors associated with happiness, ranked in order of importance, included good health, being married, and a high level of education. But being rich boosted happiness only slightly."

Retro Grouch 

Definitely true in my case.

My relationship with my wife is the best it's ever been. My kids are all out of the house so I don't feel responsible for anybody but myself. My kids have all chosen to live in the area and we have good relationships with all of them. We're the most financially secure that we've ever been. My wife and I are both healthy and having fun.

What else could there be? My wife told me last night that if heaven is a state of mind she might be there now. I feel the same way.

overthere

Well, I'm not married, and both my kids are here and I financially support them, but I have to say, I'm loads happier! I appreciate things more. Health, a secure job, a nice day, wheels that aren't flat, food, good friends, that sort of thing! I worried about so many things I had no control over when I was younger. I live more in the 'now', I like to think!

cranky old dude

I was more carefree when I was younger, perhaps foolishly so, perhaps not.
We're struggling financially now with little if any relief in sight, the bride's
health is an issue...but as my kids say, I've gotten over myself. It's all good,
what happens happens.

Voted MAYBE as I'm not really sure, I get more confused these days.

sojourn

I don't know if I'm happier or less fearful.....maybe a little bit of both.

Rober

Yes, happier!

TruF 

That's lovely, Retro! I read someplace that Warren Beatty's advice to men who want a long, successful marriage was to "marry a happy woman." I never forgot that. I believe that goes both ways.

Widsith

That's exactly the situation I'm in now, including the two kids at home. While I do still regret my marriage breaking up three years ago (it was hard to get used to being single again after 24 years of marriage), my fifties are definitely better than my teens and twenties were. It's nice to be past all that "trying to find myself" and "what am I going to do with my life?" stuff, and to know from experience that I can deal with whatever comes along.

Tom Bombadil

Mixed bag for me. I had a great time in my teens and twenties. Now I'm happy with a lot of things, but still dealing with job burn-out symptoms. Also I'm spent from having gotten 4 daughters through college and on with their lives, but still have a 16 yr old at home. Things aren't bad, and some are great. But I feel like I need a long break from responsibilities to others.

The Weak Link

Tombo, I've felt the pain but you've experienced it a lot more intensely than I have.

On balance I'm happier. Life isn't perfect, certainly. I was so burned out by 2002 I thought I'd have to stop working. In that sense every year feels a bit like a free bonus of sorts to my career. Now I'm trying to do the tight-rope act professionally: don't work so hard that you finish off your career, but don't get so slack that you become obsolete. It's a tough act.

Our adoption has given us new direction. It's been a blessing that every time we look at our daughter we know that we've made an enormous difference in someone's life.

Cycling is also a gift. Escapism that lowers your pulse and blood pressure. What can you say?

Yen

Happier now, but I think it's due to being wiser. I was more carefree and fun-loving when I was much younger. I'm a little more serious now, possibly due to life's responsibilities and the mental burden of some big regrets. I tend to be an introverted thinker, and taking up cycling in these later years has turned back my mental -- and physical -- clock a couple of decades. I really often do feel like a kid again, but this time with much more wisdom and better insight than the first time around.

John E

The best years of my life were my undergrad and grad school years and now (mid-50s), but it's all been very good.

zonatandem

Have nothing to be UNhappy about in our personal lives!

Suzie Green

I've been happy all my life, the age is irrelevant. The kids have come and gone, things change, it doesn't seem fair to compare "then" to "now."

EastOfMidnight

If I had known growing older was going to be this much fun, I would have done it years ago!

Red Rider

Me, too!

Every day is a gift. Gratitude, a dash of snark, surrounding myself with positive, like-minded people, and lots of cycling in beautiful country help me maintain a perspective on the challenges life offers. It's a good life.

Catweazle

Voted 'Maybe' because I don't really know. I have fond memories of younger years, I'm happy enough with my life right now, and I've never really allowed myself to be unhappy no matter what. Life's to short to spend it being miserable.


So I might be happier nowadays, but who cares one way or the other? Not me!

Beverly

+1

I've never allowed other people to make me unhappy and when things didn't go as planned I simply made other plans

megaman

I voted maybe. My marriage is better than ever. I have less stress at work. My life is fairly stable. But when I was younger, I didn't know all the things I should be worrying about. I've become a worrier.

waldowales

I sometimes gripe about the things in my life that are less than ideal, my aches and pains, the ugly wars, the outrageous prices, the disastrous health care system, the crooked politicians and the high taxes, rude drivers, etc.
Then I stop and think of what I do have, my health, a loving wife, great kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, good friends, my religion, enough money to get by and buy a few bike bits from time to time. I love this life! I'm 68 years old, and I hope to enjoy another 30 or 40!

patentcad

Nobody's happier than me. And if you say you are you'll be sorry.

Dchiefransom

It's not that I'm happier, I just don't worry about it any more.

Red Baron

The last decade of my life has been the best of all.

Artkansas 

Sometimes I'm happy for 5 minutes at a time.

borgagain

I'm more at peace now but not happier. I was very happy at 25 but I was also somewhat stupid. I'm not sure I'd want to be that kind of happy again.