Happiness has nothing to do with money, but money does certainly make it easier at times. The thing is, perspectives change as your life changes. At 22 years old I don't think I would've given a shit about my income in the way I do now. Back then my income meant that I could buy things whereas now my income means I can provide stability to my family. It's a very different perspective. I definitely do not think that a college degree is the only way to get to income stability. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to have one. That said, it can be very expensive to get a degree and depending on what you are studying it may not be worth it. It's certainly a complex issue. Good luck in your endeavorsIt's also incredibly funny telling recruiters and HR people who are "impressed with my resume" that I don't have a degree. I've had people end the phone call because of it. It's absurd.
It may be funny now because you're 22 years old. But I got to a place in my career where I hit a ceiling I couldn't get beyond because I did not have a degree. I ended up going back to school and getting my degree in business management. After that my earnings tripled. Was it because I was magically more proficient and had abilities I didn't before have? No. But I don't make the rules I'm just playing the game. Until the game changes, I would highly recommend that anyone that wants to succeed in this game get their degree.