A very unscientific, impromptu poll...

I'm at a pretty happy stage in my life right now, actually. If you had asked this eighteen months or a year ago, my answer would have been toward the bottom of the scale. I felt like my life was meaningless. I was spending all my time playing World of Warcraft, and didn't see what the future had in store for me. I'm working harder now than I ever have before, but I don't mind: GRS gives me purpose and direction, and keeps me focused. It's great!

As I've said before:

I am not a happy person.

But I am a joyful girl.

I tend to feel better and more fulfilled if I concentrate on noticing the individual moments that bring me pleasure, rather than trying to achieve some steady-state of contentment, which is what the "pursuit of happiness" has invariably suggested to me.

I gave myself an 8, though it would have been a lot lower a few years ago when I was married.

I still have moments of saddening, maddening despair but I return to a peaceful calm a lot faster than I have ever done in my life. I'm getting mellow & easier to please in my old (35) age.

I also gave myself an 8. During the dreary Oregon winter I probably would have rated it much lower, but now that things have warmed and dried out a bit, I can rate it higher.

It's kind of strange... my wife and I make ~20% less combined than we did 10 years ago, yet we would both say that we are happier now. I would attribute this to: my wife working less; lower debt load; having children; realizing what is important in life.

i can't complain about anything right now.. so i'm at about a 7

but there are so many things i want out of life.. much more to accomplish before i can get to a 10 =)

Maybe the box factory should give you a pay cut. It could make you even happier!

I gave myself a 9. Why? I go home each day and play with a happy two year old. I remember that everything at work is just work and happiness is everywhere if you want to find it.

CD

I gave myself an 8. My partner and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary, but we're in a long-distance relationship. The long-distance thing kind of stinks, but we plan on fixing that in the next couple of years. Sometimes I'm brought down by the committee work I have to do and the lazy/resistant students I have in class, but overall I really like my job. Other than that, I usually have time and money to do stuff I want to do, though I live fairly modestly. All in all, my happiness level is a B (an "eight")....

8 here too. I'm much happier than I used to be. Other than a few unimportant irritations, I'm reasonably happy. My #1 problem right now is "not enough time." I have a final on Monday that I haven't studied much for, an empty refrigerator, a filthy house, and dogs that don't know who I am. All this will get better after finals. Time is happiness, and I don't have enough of it.

7 for me. Got a great marriage, health is good (unless I break my bones trying to learn olmypic lifts ) and a decent job. I would have gone much higher but for the worries that seem to bog me down constantly. Turning 30 scared the living daylights out of me Realized I really need to get my finances in order. So in a mad hurry to get retirment started, emergency fund replinished, start saving for a downpayment and there is the talk about "when are we having kids?"

I voted 9. I have a funny, wonderful husband, a happy and engaging marriage, a lovely house, and a great handle on our finances. What would it take to get me to a 10? Either an end to the stresses of grad school (not gonna happen for at least two years!) or the kid we're working toward..