I think it's helpful to make a distinction between absence of suffering and happiness. Some things that we generally think of as making you positively happy in reality just relieve suffering. For instance:
Wealth: This is the most obvious example. It's commonly noted that wealth only correlates with happiness up to somewhere around the average income, enough to meet your basic necessities. Having excess money alleviates the suffering associated with poverty, but in general doesn't actually lead to sustained happiness in the long run. I once heard that winning the lottery only improves your happiness for the first 6 months, then you return to your baseline level of happiness, not sure if that's true but I wouldn't doubt it.
Physical Health: Being healthy and pain-free alleviates the suffering associated with illness and pain, but doesn't of itself lead to sustained happiness.
House: having a huge house probably doesn't lead to happiness, nor does the size of your yard if you're an adult. I'll admit that certain other things about a house could actually lead to happiness, for instance a location that lends itself to befriending your neighbors, or amenable to gardening, or close to fun activities, etc.
If you're looking forward to something that you think will make you really happy, sometimes it might be more accurate to expect this thing to alleviate suffering, but not actually lead to sustained happiness. For instance, if reading the news makes you depressed, and you look forward to the day that the president isn't in the White House, keep in mind that your actual happiness derived from his ouster will be fleeting when that day comes, albeit this particular source of suffering will no longer be there. Or if you think you'll be really happy when you you're retired, keep in mind that you may relieve any suffering associated with your job, but that doesn't necessarily mean of that you'll be happy. Likewise if you're looking forward to graduating, or completing some project or goal, the happiness derived from these achievements may be fleeting when the times comes around.
I'd contend that even at a time in your life where all the usual sources of suffering have been eliminated, you're pain free, comfortable, living without fear, you love and are loved, and your every desire has been satiated, that while that all this would be a wonderful thing, it won't necessarily guarantee that you're particularly happy. Actual positive happiness is based on what you're doing/feeling/thinking this very instant. Laughing, dancing, singing, enjoying time with another person, enjoying this moment, enjoying whatever you're thinking about, "In the Zone" with some activity that's self-directed and challenging, enjoying your meal, enjoying your exercise, enjoying your book, enjoying your work, doing something that gives you a sense of meaning such as helping others or working on a project, etc. Of course enjoying this moment is much easier when there aren't background sources of suffering.
My main intent here is to avoid the misconception that one's current unhappiness will suddenly turn to happiness when X happens. While it may be that your chief source of unhappiness will be neutralized if X happens, to be positively happy will take more than that, it will take enjoyment in the moment. So try to be happy and enjoy the moment now, don't put it off to some later date.
