great post, confused. i think the key to being happy is to live simply and to limit your desires. i guess that's a pretty buddhist school of thought, but it makes sense. desire is the root of all suffering is what they preach. now, i'm not saying to not desire anything- i mean, everyone has desires and needs, but the important thing to learn is to minimize them and to really understand the difference between want and need. i really think true happiness comes only from helping and giving to others and from human connections. i mean, yeah, i'm happy when i buy a new cd (especially if it's a good one!) or something like that, but that is not a profound happiness. no happiness can compare to the one felt as a result of loving another person. la.....