"if you aren't able to meet a certain reasonable minimum standard of living, you will be absolutely miserable."
For some people their minimum standard of living dose not require money. Buddhist monks[1] come to mind. There are also people that simply want to live away from society and thus have no real need for money.
I know people who have lived off the grid (or on a boat), without a paying job, happily. It does get wearing, and people don't seem to do it for too long - but that can be years.
(To give some examples of lifestyles that do not require income, nor external people paying for things.)
Definitely true. I think the parent was overstating it saying that one would be miserable without money.
But the larger point stands, your state of mind and your access to resources are connected, very strongly at the poverty end. There are definitely people who can be very fulfilled with very few resources (until they get sick or it gets very cold) but they would all be happier with a bunch of money, even if that's just to give away to those in need.
For some people their minimum standard of living dose not require money. Buddhist monks[1] come to mind. There are also people that simply want to live away from society and thus have no real need for money.
[1] http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/layguide.h...