Once characterized by angst and risky behavior, midlife now is believed by some experts to be the happiest time of adult life. "From age 30 to 50, life only gets better and better," said Ron Kessler, professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. "These are the best years of their lives."

People at midlife -- technically 38 to 55 years old -- are usually more settled, typically married, and in many cases, their children are grown or nearly grown. They have more free time and more money. While it is often a time of intense introspection, changes made in a "midlife crisis" can launch the happiness missing in earlier years. Researchers acknowledge that midlife has its problems. "When you are in your 40s and 50s, lots of things could happen," said Elaine Wethington, an assistant professor of human development at Cornell University.

"But you are also at your peak capacity for mastering them and solving them. Middle-age people are more experienced and more resourceful. They also have more connections to other people who can help weather the crisis or solve it."

When Gary Vacha, 41, realized his marriage was in trouble, he paid for counseling for two years, which ultimately helped him figure out a separation plan that minimized the effects on his 9-year-old daughter.

"I took the counselor's advice, did the things I needed to and threw myself into my work and my hobbies. I didn't dwell on the negative aspects," said Vacha, a computer programmer whose hobbies include playing hockey and strumming a guitar in a band called Headspins with other middle-age members.

Now Vacha is paying for his wife's home and his own, an arrangement they worked out until she finishes nursing school. Had he been younger when the marriage disintegrated, he says, he wouldn't have had the money or the maturity to deal with the impending divorce.

"Overall, I'm happier now. I don't have the angst of being 20 and not knowing about life," said Vacha.

"There was always a certain concern with what everyone would think of me; now I don't care."

He also believes his interests in music and sports help him deal with getting older.

"Maybe that's my way of hanging on to my youth," he said. "When we go out and play a show, I play for myself. It's an outlet. Some people like to garden. I like to play guitar."