What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being at one with yourself.

Being at peace with God.

Perfect happiness is having a wife who loves you and doesn’t ask for too much jewelry.

Spending time with my family—with no phone, no fax, and no meetings.

It’s never going to be absolutely perfect. There will always be something you would change if you could.

Waking up in the morning.

A canoe, mixed sun and cloud, no deadlines in sight.

Being with those that I love, and they have no problems.

When the coffee kicks in early in the morning and I’m on the couch with my dogs, reading the paper.

Being totally present and at peace in the moment—and knowing that my children and grandchildren are all right.

Watching my wife and children eat.

To be wildly, desperately, carelessly, nakedly in love, of course. Crazy, obsessive love: brooding, baying at the moon, writing daily missives to the adored. Who wouldn’t want this? Even though the crash is painful.

The absence of fear, and the recognition that we are all on this ship of fools together. We may in fact go to the big ship’s Art Deco bar and have a glass of champagne, toasting our foibles.

First of all, to be in love. The second way of being very happy is to be able to get the best out of yourself, whatever it is.

I think you can strive to attain it, but be realistic about the outcome. In the meantime, I find I might be experiencing it through flashes or brief moments in love and art, and at times just being alive.

Being in love while organizing my closet.

Being with animals.

To sit by a clear river on a warm day in early July with the smell of cut grass in the air.

Laughter and peace of mind.

A perfect flight to a perfect landing … with witnesses.