Very good statement. It works for me too. But remember every person has their own way of feeling happy. For some camping, mountaineering, skiing is a must, for others a day at Disneyland or an afternoon shopping for shoes, and for others a weekend of good rest at home is great. It depends of your age, your taste, your cravings...your nature.

Being present in the moment is quite a difficult discipline to master. I'd guess that most folks live in the moment some moments and slide through others. I know my work days are often about getting to the end but even some of my leisure days are spent coasting.
I'd like to be more self disciplined and experience each moment. I know for a fact I am far too lazy.

Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of that last part but atheism just means you're not going to fall for the false claims and exaggerated lies of religion, it's not a shield of protection against the trials or stresses of life. We can feel just as much loneliness, hopelessness, depression, and anxiety as anyone. We just know that believing in Jebus won't make it all magically go away.

That's what weed is for.

I don't know if most people are happy or not. I think life is full of happy moments and not so happy moments and a good life has more of the former. If religion makes a person happy, then more power to them (just don't impose your beliefs on me). If watching TV 14 hours a day makes one happy, then that is not a wasted life either. If I had to define a "wasted" life, I guess it would be one where a person doesn't have the opportunity to experience joy.

I think that depression is a disease -- the brain fooling itself into the belief that life is bleak and there is no chance at a better future.

I don't have any evidence that points me to the belief that atheists are happier than theists. I would hope that is the case, but there are probably a lot of miserable atheists out there.

you sure do use the word "most" a lot

The best path is to live in the moment WHILE still building for the future. Ignoring either leads to undesirable consequences.

Welcome to the club and I hope you find what you're looking for