Do you know what makes you happy?

Apparently, most of us don't.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/conditions/11/10/happiness.overview/index.html

Our culture implores us to buy bigger, newer, better things, but research shows "stuff" does not buy happiness. By and large, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once you pass an income of $50,000, more money doesn't buy much more happiness...

Our genes hardwire us to reproduce, but children have a small negative effect on happiness, research shows.

"When you follow people throughout their days, as they're going about their normal activities, people are about as happy interacting with their children, on average, as when they're doing housework. They're much less happy than when they're exercising, sleeping, grocery shopping, hanging out with friends... Now, that doesn't mean they don't occasionally create these transcendent moments of joy that we remember as filling our days with happiness."

Finally, our imaginations fail us...because when we envision different futures we see either perpetual gloom or happily ever-after scenarios. In fact, neither unhappiness nor joy last as long as we expect. As you've probably guessed, winning the lottery will not guarantee a life of bliss.

So what makes us happy? In general, the older you get the happier you get -- until you reach very old age.

According to a Pew Research Center survey, the happiest age group is men 65 and older; the least happy: men 18 to 29.

The survey also found:

• Married people are happier than singles.
  
• College grads are happier than those without a college degree.
  
• People who were religious are happier than those who aren't.
  
• Sunbelt residents are happier than other U.S. residents.
  
• Republicans are happier than Democrats -- but both are happier than independents.