Interesting story in the New York Times this week about working at Christie’s in New York. While the auction house has reduced employee perks and will have to lay off some staff due to the downturn, many of the (mostly) women who work there have felt almost vindicated as they keep the jobs they love while their friends lose much higher paying (but less satisfying) finance jobs.

How much money does it take to be happy? It’s a question that has been on the minds of many in recent weeks and months. Those bankers and financiers who have lost their jobs will almost certainly need to curtail spending and may find that their standard of living has dropped. But people used to a ‘normal’ or even ‘poor’ standard of living, who are happy with what they have, might not see much of a difference in how they’re living.

As I’ve said before, luxury depends on how one interprets what luxury is, and knowing what makes one happy is a true luxury. The things or experiences that give a Theta or Lambda pleasure may still be expensive, but if you know what it takes to make you happy, less time and energy need to be focused on other, less important things.