We all know to live well we need a good diet, exercise, low stress,
a sense of purpose and the like. One list I came across as the healthiest
places to live included: New Zealand; Panama; Costa Rica; Sardinia; Vilcabamba,
and Ecuador. One of those places doesn’t even show up on my auto spell checker.
Things they said they had included high-fiber foods, hard water full of
calcium, family focus and strong family ties, light meals in the evening, dry
air to keep food longer, sunny weather for vitamin D, social interaction,
enjoyable work that is physical, and they feel they contribute to the greater
good.
Now I want you to give special notice that all of these places are
in warm climate zones not unlike the Fertile Crescent where we think life
began.
I’m depressed. Today I drove by our local golf course, which was 80
to 90% snow and ice covered. It’s spring! The vernal equinox has taken place.
Easter finery has been worn (often under heavy winter coats and long underwear
underneath.)
What’s wrong with us, are we stupid or what, why are we living in
these inhospitable unhealthy climes? No wonder I’m depressed; what normal sane
human being wouldn’t be?
Oh yeah, I know you weirdoes that think skiing down steep hills
risking life and limb and freezing your tooches off. Or want to run and jump in
freezing water or skate on frozen water in tutus – you are all nuts – stark
raving lunatics.
Oh I am aware the Sweden is the happiest country in the world to
live but that because the have a sane government and economy, which balances,
out their dumb climate.
Do we have fur? No, we are hairless, vulnerable beings that need to
be warm and comfortable.
Now we human beings are perfectly capable of screwing up good
places to live with our behavior. Here is another list of the worst places to
live and why: Urumqui, China – pollution; Somalia – corruption; North Korea –
dictatorship; Iraq – person security; El Salvador – homicide rate; Zimbabwe –
inflation; Yemen – gender gap; Swaziland – life expectancy; Mali – literacy;
and Ertrea –freedom of speech – called a vast open prison.
And before we get all egotistical about our country on Time’s list
of the worst and best places to live we are on none of the lists.
So, I got that off my chest but it still 32 degrees – freezing, my
golf clubs sit idle, and I’m still depressed. Guess I’ll pet a cat, then
sneeze.
As for happy countries, the first thing I found was this article:
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"According to Gallup’s findings, the happiest people in the world live in Panama and Paraguay, followed by El Salvador and Venezuela, then Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Guatemala, the Philippines, Ecuador and Costa Rica."
No Sweden on this list. Perhaps because the government is little less than sane, as has too much power relative to the people. But this also happens to be true of Venezuela, so go figure.
As for saddest, "Among the saddest, according to Gallup’s survey, are the citizens of war-torn regions like Iraq and Afghanistan and Yemen as well as the likes of Lithuania, Belarus, Serbia, Georgia and Armenia."
I'd not count Serbia as wartorn either. The Yugoslav wars have been over for 14 years, and they only touched Serbia for a very brief part of time.
For a basically silly piece you managed to find something to debate. So, here's to gnat's eyelashes. Seems like a good idea to read your Forbes article again. My mistake I tossed towns/cities together with countries; my list was for cities - blue zones they are called. Then I tossed in a country Sweden from which I remembered from a few years ago as being the happiest country in the world. Again I mixed happiness with healthy places. As to happiness checking the net, including Forbes (a once good mag) Sweden ranks from 3rd to 6th or 7th along with other Scandinavian countries: Norway, Denmark, Finland, Norway etc, Notes these are socialist countries. Hmmm.
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