There is a Museum of Happiness in Copenhagen. I visited it in 2021. One of the activities was to write what makes you happy on a post-it and read other visitors’ responses. Another exhibit showed that happiest and unhappiest days of 2016 in the UK. The happiest was Christmas and the unhappiest was the day after the U.S. presidential election.
Just imagine how happy the Finnish, Danish, and Icelandic beds are. Even more so when they are so warm compared to the frigid climate of at least two of those countries.
There are two factors to be considered when reviewing this so-called “happiness index” ratings every time they’re trotted out by the many advocating for high taxation and “cradle to grave” social “safety net” structures like the Scandinavian countries have:
1) The countries that rate high on the “happiness indexes” typically also have very monolithic cultures—common education, common religion (not just Christianity, but specific sects like Lutheran), common domestic backgrounds, etc. in a country smaller than many American states. In other words, little if any “red state versus blue state” tribalism, urban-versus-rural, racial strife, etc.
2) Said countries also have a built-in cultural imperative against complaining. Crankiness and complaining are frowned upon in Scandinavia, whereas it has replaced baseball as the national pastime in the United States. Exhibit A: Rat. This has serious implications for the true accuracy of the “happiness indexes.” If you interview a nation of “Pigs” (Scandinavia) and a nation of “Rats” (USA), of COURSE you’re going to come up with vastly different ratings, no matter what the government, tax rates, societal “safety nets,” etc. Further, look up the notion of Danish/Norwegian “hygge,” something that no doubt affects the national psyche. (As well as the winters that instigate the concept.) Pig seems to have THAT concept down pat, at least in this strip.
My “Happy Place?” Easy. My big comfy chair in my small paid-for house. I get out of either only for necessity and even then und protest. (Admittedly, my own comfy bed is a close second, but I tend to sleep through the happiness.) 8>)
Any uncrowded natural setting will do for me. One of the most peaceful mornings I ever spent was at the Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. An uncrowded beach is nice, too, except during hurricane season.
BE THIS GUY over 1 year ago
The couch beats the bed on my father’s list of happiest places.
BasilBruce over 1 year ago
So if Pig gets into a comfy bed in Finland with a danish and some ice cream, he’ll have it made!
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member over 1 year ago
Three countries with a long and hard winter? No way. I still prefer my rambling Italy.
leopardglily over 1 year ago
Fun fact: In Finland, when a student earns his PhD, he’s traditionally presented with a top hat and small sword.
ronaldspence over 1 year ago
The supposed “happiest place on earth” is down the road a bit from us, but from the price of admission, the only happy people are Disney $hareholders!
marilynnbyerly over 1 year ago
My comfy bed when the electric blanket is just right. I think I hear it calling me now.
GROG Premium Member over 1 year ago
If my bed were in Tahiti I could be in my happy place.
Sanspareil over 1 year ago
Pig seems to have left his closet!
Happiness is whatever gets you through the next half hour!
Radish the wordsmith over 1 year ago
What was 3rd?
blunebottle over 1 year ago
Three cheers for Pig!
Doug K over 1 year ago
Pig doesn’t travel very far from his bed or the couch.
Compared to the whole world, Pig’s world is a small world (after all).
rdav1248961 Premium Member over 1 year ago
There is a Museum of Happiness in Copenhagen. I visited it in 2021. One of the activities was to write what makes you happy on a post-it and read other visitors’ responses. Another exhibit showed that happiest and unhappiest days of 2016 in the UK. The happiest was Christmas and the unhappiest was the day after the U.S. presidential election.
hitman4cookies over 1 year ago
I’m going to my happy place now.
Count Olaf Premium Member over 1 year ago
Number Three is the Toilet although it may arguably be higher on the list.
Count Olaf Premium Member over 1 year ago
No way no Norway.
akachman Premium Member over 1 year ago
Love you, Pig.
Goat from PBS over 1 year ago
Just imagine how happy the Finnish, Danish, and Icelandic beds are. Even more so when they are so warm compared to the frigid climate of at least two of those countries.
Ellis97 over 1 year ago
My happiest place would be inside my own wonderful bedroom.
klapre over 1 year ago
Always wondered about the methodology of those polls.
Liam Astle Premium Member over 1 year ago
Do you notice that those are WHITE majority countries.
[Unnamed Reader - bf182b] over 1 year ago
Disneyland must be feeling neglected.
Wichita1.0 over 1 year ago
But it got honorable mention.
LNER4472 Premium Member over 1 year ago
There are two factors to be considered when reviewing this so-called “happiness index” ratings every time they’re trotted out by the many advocating for high taxation and “cradle to grave” social “safety net” structures like the Scandinavian countries have:
1) The countries that rate high on the “happiness indexes” typically also have very monolithic cultures—common education, common religion (not just Christianity, but specific sects like Lutheran), common domestic backgrounds, etc. in a country smaller than many American states. In other words, little if any “red state versus blue state” tribalism, urban-versus-rural, racial strife, etc.
2) Said countries also have a built-in cultural imperative against complaining. Crankiness and complaining are frowned upon in Scandinavia, whereas it has replaced baseball as the national pastime in the United States. Exhibit A: Rat. This has serious implications for the true accuracy of the “happiness indexes.” If you interview a nation of “Pigs” (Scandinavia) and a nation of “Rats” (USA), of COURSE you’re going to come up with vastly different ratings, no matter what the government, tax rates, societal “safety nets,” etc. Further, look up the notion of Danish/Norwegian “hygge,” something that no doubt affects the national psyche. (As well as the winters that instigate the concept.) Pig seems to have THAT concept down pat, at least in this strip.
Zebrastripes over 1 year ago
Once again, poor Pig shows his insecurities about the world! His world!
jel354 over 1 year ago
The “Happiness” saga continues.
jel354 over 1 year ago
The “Happiness” saga continues.
gigagrouch over 1 year ago
All more-or-less socialist countries, BTW.
Call me Ishmael over 1 year ago
So to be happy, live where it’s cold ?
Bookworm over 1 year ago
My “Happy Place?” Easy. My big comfy chair in my small paid-for house. I get out of either only for necessity and even then und protest. (Admittedly, my own comfy bed is a close second, but I tend to sleep through the happiness.) 8>)
David_the_CAD over 1 year ago
I am with you Pig.
hariseldon59 over 1 year ago
Any uncrowded natural setting will do for me. One of the most peaceful mornings I ever spent was at the Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. An uncrowded beach is nice, too, except during hurricane season.
Mary Ellen over 1 year ago
Yep, sounds right to me! I’ve been in the hospital since Friday, and I miss my bed and couch so much.
Bilan over 1 year ago
Does Pig get that ink all over his pillow?
zeexenon over 1 year ago
100% agree with Pig, except, of course for bedtime.
Buoy over 1 year ago
The great outdoors is my happy place. Give me a beach, a conifer forest, or a river canyon and I cannot be sullied.
bajacalla Premium Member over 1 year ago
I could happily live in either country. Iceland especially. <3
dosbears Premium Member over 1 year ago
Does Pig have SwinePox?
timothy6522 over 1 year ago
I see those “spots” have returned to Pig!!!They seem to show up periodically.
SFpagan over 1 year ago
click those ruby shoes together and say, “There’s no place like home”
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 1 year ago
Happiness is wherever you are.
Sisyphos over 1 year ago
Pig’s list is by far the more practical!
Swirls Before Pine over 1 year ago
A comfy bed with a Dane is even better.
georgemetropolis over 1 year ago
Let’s just agree that rat has the most rizz out of all of them