To some extent, being happy is a skill. My family was perfectly able to be happy on $50,000 and also on far, far less. And I certainly think we have found interesting options. Take an interest in the world and many opportunities for special things can come about. I agree that more money makes more things possible, but there are still amazing things to do places to visit and people to meet with very little money. One thing we have always had that sometimes people with more money do not have is time. All the money in the world isn't going to buy you a float trip through the Amazon basin if you don't have a few consecutive weeks to paddle your canoe. But my family can do it on $50k and a few free weeks.
I must say I do not care for having an average family income referred to as chump change. That implies that average earners are chumps (losers, gullible stupid people.)