Yes, I do think that you need more than simple optimism to be happy. I also feel that someone with a negative outlook can refuse to experience/block potential moments of happiness because of their perspective (like an Eeyore).
Did I say that it's the single trait required to be a happy person, or did I say "I do think you have to have a positive outlook to be a happy person"? At no point did I say being optimistic was the recipe for being a happy person, or that there was a single trait which guaranteed happiness. I said I thought you needed optimism to be a happy person, but that is like saying you need flour to make bread. Flour isn't the only ingredient in bread, but you're going to be hard pressed to make bread without it. You can be prickly all you want, but try being prickly without twisting my comments.
You said that some people call the personality trait of being a happy person "optimism". Would you still say that?Did I say that it's the single trait required to be a happy person, or did I say "I do think you have to have a positive outlook to be a happy person"?