Happen

Humble   Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:17 pm GMT
Hi,

“Happen” is a very frequent word, but its meaning is sometimes rather elusive. What does it convey in the following sentences?
Maybe the listener is expected to be surprised on hearing the info preceded by “happen”?

1. My wife and I happen to be engineers, as my father, grand father, and great grand father, and we happen to be non-Americans.

2. I happen to be an attorney, I happen to be married, I happen to be a father, I happen to be here now.

3. I happen to believe that radio is one of the best media ever invented.

What would be different in connotations if I just said instead
My wife and I are engineers …
I am an attorney…
I believe that radio …

Thanks for your help.