[quote=gzz]As for better housing not leading to happiness, it really depends. If I moved up from my 800,000 house to a 1.6m one nearby, probably I’d be a tiny bit happier. But I know I was happier when I moved up to this one from a more cramped situation.
My comfort level and space requirements were largely set growing up in suburban 1960’s houses of about 2200sf on big lots. I did not like being more cramped when I first moved here. It was like a slight background anxiety was lifted when I moved to a bigger place with more space and privacy (and I could do so within budget).[/quote]
This. I am happier in 3,000sf than I was in 2,000, and certainly happier than I was in a cramped condo. A bigger garage makes for a better man cave, more distance between neighbors means that cave can have a subwoofer, there’s room to store things without feeling like I need to constantly donate stuff that actually does have some value to me. It’s little things like the kids having a fort under the stairs because we have the room to spare. It’s a sanctuary/resort/stress reliever.
