Isn’t the question, “How can I be happy?” arguably the ultimate question in life? When we were young, most of us had all kinds of ideas about how we are going to be happy our whole lives. Do you remember thinking that your parents had no clue, but you would live differently? Then reality hits when we have to work to make money to survive. And before you know it 20 years have passed, and your older. A lot older. The kids are grown up, and your body doesn’t look the same. There are wrinkles and weight where there didn’t used to be. Like time travel, 30 years and 40 years are gone in a flash, and now you’re at retirement age. Where did the time go?Â
How Can I Be Happy?
I’m no psychologist or an expert on life. I’m not a seer, and I’m not the seventh son of a seventh son, so my thoughts are merely the random thoughts of an average guy on a pilgrimage, maybe like you. On my journey I discovered that life doesn’t go according to plan. In fact, that’s not the exception, that’s the rule. I learned that making a lot of money and being rich is not only nearly impossible, but neither wealth nor poverty bring ultimate happiness. Pleasure from “things” like houses, cars, toys, and fat bank accounts is great, but they don’t answer the question how can I be happy. And perhaps the greatest and most important challenge in all of life–relationships with those we love the most–rarely goes according to plan. That’s life, isn’t it?
Of course, there are many good times to remember, with laughter and good times with loved ones. These become precious memories worth more than gold as we grow older. Time is a great mystery. It moves too slow when we are young, but then accelerates as we get older. I marvel at how the body grows older but the mind still feels young.
Life’s journey is different for each of us, but I believe our elder years are meant to be the best years of our lives. Wisdom comes with age, if we are teachable and humble. There’s a peace and contentment that comes with a lifetime of experiencing life in all its dimensions. We gain a control over our emotions, and we have balance and moderation in our lives. There is more stability and predictability, less stress and uncertainty. We know what we want, how to live, and what not to do in order to be happy.
How Can I Be Happy in Sequim?
I have said many times that living in Sequim is one of the reasons so many retirees have successfully answered the question, how can I be happy? It’s not just location, it’s not just the ideal climate and weather, it’s much more than that. Ask anyone who has lived here for decades, and you’ll hear the same general expressions of happiness. People who live in Sequim, myself included, don’t want to live anywhere else. There are so many reasons, far too many to list here, but I will testify here that the super majority of my retired clients who buy a home in Sequim say over and over again that they absolutely love living in Sequim. The people, the weather, the culture, the recreation, and the list is long. All of my clients who retire in Sequim tell me that they are very happy.Â
But you know what I think? While the list of things in Sequim that contribute to our happiness are important, I think retirees who move to Sequim have figured something else out from a lifetime of conscientious learning and growing. I think they figured out how to answer the question, “how can I be happy?”
Last Updated on September 22, 2019 by Chuck Marunde
