I think happiness is generally linked to independence too. When you're a teen, you're generally forced to do what your parents wish and as you get older your in

I think happiness is generally linked to independence too. When you're a teen, you're generally forced to do what your parents wish and as you get older your independence (again generally) increases. When you're in your 20's you're stepping into complete independence, the adapting can be stressful and for most people you budget isn't exactly large. When you're in your 30's you have full independence, at least until you have children. When you're finally in your 50's, your kids have probably moved out or fully take care of themselves, your budget is quite spacious now there's likely only 2 people in your household. You now get to do pretty much what you want when you want and the money you used to spend on kids can now either be spent on vacations or luxuries and hobbies you rarely got to indulge in when you was 20/30.