Simplicity versus Wealth

When my daughter, Annika, stayed in Peru to volunteer in medical clinics, she was taken aback by how little the people in the village had. Some had only one pair of shoes, others none. No toys, one set of clothes and just enough to eat and other bare necessities. Yet they seemed so much happier than some of the people she encounters here in the U.S. 

So if you had just enough food to survive, a roof over your head, running water and other things important for daily life, would you be satisfied? Or would you be happier with wealth and all the bells and whistles if could provide, including the means to help others? Personally, I have often envisioned my utopic life as one where we lived in a log cabin in the mountains by the lake, grew our own fruit and vegetables, hunted and fished for our food, raised chickens for eggs and had little else to worry about and maintain. But having money does allow me to help others and run and maintain all things CE, so I'm conflicted.