Stability and safety are both values that a lot of people would put before joy. But fundamentally we're approaching the penultimate "What is the meaning of life?" question - to which everyone has to find their own answers. I suspect hedonists would be inclined to agree with you.
Happiness is not the same thing as pleasure. People seeking happiness aren't necessarily hedonists. There's nothing wrong with seeking pleasure (or being a hedonist) but just saying that they shouldn't be considered equivalent.
