What's the Point of a Hectic Lifestyle?

After moving away from the East Coast, I quickly forgot that not everyone in this country has the time to vegetate in front of the TV or suffers from chronically bored syndrome. Yes, that's right--there is also the opposite end of the spectrum: the frazzled, hectic lifestyle people.

In my opinion the busy lifestyle families are quite perplexing. I completely understand that there are folks who are seriously struggling to pay the mortgage or keep their cars running-and those folks are working their tails off. But my issue is with the "hectic by choice" people.

A "hectic lifestyle by choice" person is one who has the illusion that their family will only be happy if they have a home that is at least 2000+ square feet, with 2 flat screen TV's, shiny new cars and all the latest fashions with gadgets in tow. Thus they refuse to take any vacations and work their tails off, outsource the kids, and run around with stress levels that keep the cardiologists in business.
Hasn't anyone heard of the happiness index? We as humans are practically pre-programed to hit a happiness set point. That means happiness goes up and it goes down, but you can't push the threshold any higher than the set point. In other words, there is no scientific evidence that killing yourself for your career will ever make you or your family happy. (actually I have read that Tibetan monks are able to raise their happiness set point, but of course that doesn't come from joining the rat race)

What's most bizarre is the bitching and moaning people with plenty of money (by that I mean roof over head, car and food on table) keep engaging in by saying "they can't make ends meet". Yikes--those ends are all an illusion. Who the heck really needs a McMansion?? So you can burn up utilities and feel isolated from each other?? Or what about keeping up on fashion-- The whole fashion industry is a farce, brainwashing insecure people to spend money. People say they want to look good--well then decide what "look good" means and stop changing it every year!! Does it make any sense whatsoever to spend money on fashion, if all you do is want to burn your old photos once you realize you looked like a freak 10 years ago??

Of course none of it makes sense to me. So this rat is out of the race.