Happy Planet ? Just Wondering

Being in a place where one is happy, imo, is as important as being with people that they're happy to be around.  
It sounds as if you've got a happy, contented life, newpioneer (and Juan, if you're listening in, and I hope you make a grand recovery and become cancer-free so you can continue to enjoy the great things in life).  newpioneer, I'm glad for both of you, especially because you live in a good environment for you, and have the good healthcare that you need.  

More power to you both, and Kathleen, more power to you and your family also.

I also admit to another thing:  I tend to find happiness in places that most people consider strange or even "abnormal".  For that, I frequently get mocked or ignored by people who don't understand, yet, at the same time, I have a cadre of loving family and friends who don't mock or ignore me, and, in fact, accept me for my eccentricities.  I like where I live, very much, and my place also has special meaning to me for a number of reasons:  My grandparents gave it to me as a gift, it's where I do my silversmithing work (I'm working on stuff presently), plus it's in an area that I'm familiar with and have always loved.  I enjoy being in the city, and yet, I find time, in the good weather, to visit the country, to go on long distance bike rides, and all.  So, all of the above having been said, I have no intentions of giving up my living situation, my work, my African Grey parrot, Aziza, or my  love for the film West Side Story.  

Back in the 1960's, when I was a teenager, there were no special-ed programs, schools or camps that I could've been sent to, and, frankly, I'm glad of it, because I might very well have been stuck in a rut, and not had the opportunity to live in the ordinary world, do the things I'm doing, have a chance to mingle with ordinary, average people,  and live in a place like the one I'm living in now.  As I mentioned in one of my long diaries, I did try going on a trip sponsored by a program that was supposedly for young people with learning disabilities and social problems, but, as it turned out, the people on the trip (not the staff) had extremely severe developmental problems that they'd not been able to overcome, and there were a number of them who, if not mentally retarded, were at least borderline.  For all kinds of reasons, that didn't work out for me, and I regretted having handled this state of affairs as badly as I did, but that's water under the bridge.  I guess what I learned is that I've had to find my own niche in life and my own connections, which I've done, with the help of people who love me.  

I know that I would not be happy living off the grid, nor in a really rural, isolated place, far from everything.  However, I've gone afew times to a Crafts School up in Deer Isle, ME, for a 3-week summer session on occasion, which, while an excellent vacation spot, would not be the kind of place where I'd wish to set up roots.  Happiness, is rooted in one's inner soul and psyche, and it's created there, too.  It's taken a long, long time for me to realize that, but I finally did.  

I realize that, while people are right in saying that happiness doesn't come from material things, the things that I own, from my house, to my silversmithing studio and materials, to my bicycles, to my African Grey Parrot, Aziza, and to my family and friends, I admit that if I had to give up any of what I owned, I'd be devastated.  It may sound sort of spoiled-brattish to place such high importance on a living situation, and having afew material things, but that's the way I am, and many people who've been hardwired together the way I originally was have that same sort of attachment to place and/or materials, to some degree.

I consider myself a happy pessimist, of which there are many, also.  Thanks for listening to my  rambling.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

It sounds like you guys are in a good place.  Also all the places you look at interest me as well.

basically the beautiful tropical environment - things that have nothing to do with our horrid political climate or the crime rate. and we also love the heart and humility of the Hispanic culture - for the most part the people have warm, warm hearts and everyone is "family".

This is the key and why central and south America score so well.  When I was in Bolivia (the poorest country in South America) and Peru I was stunned to find people so happy. Sure they had rotting teeth, a whole host of health issue, mainly coming from contaminated water, half the babies die before their first birthday BUT even with these hardships they have each other and the most powerful love I have ever experienced.  They wake up with joy in their hearts, they enjoy each day as if it were their last.  It spun my head around.