> Try to buy a house ... where you'll be relatively high on the social ladder
This is depressing advice, no matter how many empirical studies back it up. I don't think I'd want to live around people that were wealthier than I'd ever be, but I would certainly want to live around people that were more energetic, socially outgoing, ambitious, and involved in the community than me.
Whatever you value -- you should hang around people that are better at it than you are. If you are a hacker, work with people that are smarter than you. If you want to exercise more, spend time with people who exercise twice as much as you'd like to. Et cetera.
This is depressing advice, no matter how many empirical studies back it up. I don't think I'd want to live around people that were wealthier than I'd ever be, but I would certainly want to live around people that were more energetic, socially outgoing, ambitious, and involved in the community than me.
Whatever you value -- you should hang around people that are better at it than you are. If you are a hacker, work with people that are smarter than you. If you want to exercise more, spend time with people who exercise twice as much as you'd like to. Et cetera.