It has been said that happiness is the result of independence - that if you're financially independent, relationally independent, or if you're independent in every way, then you'll be the happiest. 

But, happiness does not come from being independent, isolated, living your life with all the barriers up and all the masks and keeping people at an arm’s distance.  That’s not the way to be happy.  Happiness comes from interdependence, from connecting.

Genesis 2:18