After the turn of the millennium, a shift from an adventure society to a feel-good society is emerging throughout the western world. Early social demands after 11 September 2001 regarding the situation in Germany, such as „Abolish the culture of fun!“ or „End the adventure society“, are becoming more firmly established: for Germans, feeling good in their own four walls is becoming increasingly important. For many, a television (68%), a radio (40%), a newspaper (46%) and a good meal at home (47%) are enough to make them happy and content. Even having your own garden (40%) still rivals the traditional holiday trip (41%). This is the result of a representative survey conducted by the B.A.T Freizeit-Forschungsinstitut, in which 2,000 people aged 14 and over were asked what is most important for their personal well-being.
„People in Germany do not expect great happiness from life today,“ says Prof Dr Horst W. Opaschowski, Director of the Institute. „It's more the little moments of happiness in life in a relaxed, trouble-free atmosphere: atmosphere, harmony, security. Guarantees that you can live carefree and simply enjoy some beautiful moments.“ A partner (52%), children and family (48%) as well as nice neighbours (33%) are all part of this in the midst of media diversity from the TV to the stereo system.
When it comes to overall personal well-being, emancipation obviously also has its natural limits. Men and women live in two different everyday worlds:
Women continue to prioritise a homely atmosphere with the right ambience. Compared to men, they place significantly more value on a beautiful home (+8 percentage points): From the bathtub (+15) to garden maintenance (+6), from the telephone (+8) to nice neighbours (+9).
Compared to women, men only feel really comfortable when they are surrounded by technical toys and can concentrate fully on the car (+14) and the stereo system (+9).
Professor Opaschowski: „Even in the 21st century, the ‚new man’ is still a legend, as is the ‚new woman’. When it comes to personal well-being, two emotional worlds collide.“ Only when it comes to listening to the radio (f: 40% - m: 39%) and reading newspapers (f: 47% - m: 45%) do the genders largely harmonise in their lifestyles. But when it comes to reading books, they drift apart again (f: 45% - m: 31%). Who might the writer Theodor Fontane have had in mind over a hundred years ago when he answered the question „What does a person need to be happy?“: „A good book, a few friends, a place to sleep - and no toothache.“

You can find further information on the living environment in the 21st century in:

GERMANY 2020.
How we live tomorrow
Scientific forecasts
By Horst W. Opaschowski
520 pages/90 graphics/index
ISBN 3-8100-4168-8
VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2004
39,90 Euro