How funny... I've been on a happy kick lately. I have been doing some research regarding a program I'm pursuing as well as a book that jumped out at me recently, What Happy Women Know. 

It's interesting that you mentioned the All Happy All the Time issue. We can trick ourselves into thinking that we're not experiencing happiness if it's not at a euphoric level. We undervalue simple joys and the feeling of contentment... and then we fall into depression because we're not ecstatic. It's an easy enough trap to fall into in our culture of do-more-have-more. It's up to us to teach our children to appreciate simple pleasures. A lovely trip to Lake Michigan sounds like just the thing!