On flooding and disasters

There's an odd byproduct of living in a relatively rural area--and traveling through some of the truly destitute parts of a developing country--is that when I see pictures of the flood victims in Pakistan, with people who've set up tarps over cots with blankets and piles of tarpaulin-packaged possessions, I think "why isn't there a vendor table?" and then, in response to the commentator, retort that there are extensive communities all over this area who lead contented lives with even less than that--a tarp roof, a sarong-style wrap for the day that doubles as cover for the night, and a little, roll-up table of trinkets or foodstufs for sale. They lead what could be called scavenging or hunter-gatherer type lifestyles, collecting fruits and greens from the local forests, fishing for protein, and seem completely contented.
That's one of the big lessons: happiness lies entirely within the approach to life, not the appointments thereof. And as much as you can intellectually recognize that, it takes confronting someone thoroughly destitute and desperate by western standards and realizing that they are perfectly happy and pity your for your burdens and attachments as much as you pity their lack thereof.