It would seem to me you need to be relatively happy and content with your own life before you can successfully share it. It's something I'm working on...
9/11 took a couple of years to plan. To me, the question would be when are they NOT planning something?
Whether we hear about it or not depends on how bad someone's doing in the polls. Time to try and shift public opinion - let's fly this one out there...
Not sure what part of Cali your cousin is from, but here, I suspect the dating scene is great if you drive a brand new Lexus/BMW/Mercedes and you have $100 bills falling out of your pocket.
RE: Is Religion important in the life.
Damn. Where are the hard-core bible-thumpers when you really need them?