To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition, the end to which every enterprise and labour tends. — Samuel Johnson, the Rambler, No, 68.
That’s the very first quote in Gretchen Rubin’s brand new book, Happier at Home (affiliate link) which — like its predecessor The Happiness Project — is sure to be a blockbuster. The Samuel Johnson quote immediately hit home for me, because 
golly, isn’t this blog about finding happiness in our sweet little midcentury homes… about loving the house you’re in, instead of pining after what it may lack… and about giving our houses our tender loving care — so that they can give theirs back?
Crikes, sorry to get all mushy there. But in case you haven’t guessed, I am hugely enormously, gigantically, sentimental about happiness in house and home. It is kind of… all that I think about. I also just read Gretchen Rubin’s first book The Happiness Project (affiliate link) in July. I thought that the book was hugely enormously gigantically brilliant. It was a #1 New York Times best-seller for good reason. The book is NOT self-help FLUFF. This woman is a take-no-prisoners serious, avid researcher. She wrote lauded history books about Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy before she turned to the more prosaic, yet elusive, topic of Happiness. In a nut, with The Happiness Project, she synthesized amazing amounts of research on the topic… and then… and this was the especially brilliant part: She put her findings to work in her own life, small-step-by-small-step, over a 12-month period, and chronicled her experience. The book is super easy to read, super encouraging — but at the same time, it’s deeeeeep. How often can you say that.
Now, Gretchen (I don’t think she will mind my familiarity) has followed up her first best-selling happiness book with a second one that focuses even more specifically on cultivating happiness within your home and with the creatures who may live there with you. UPDATE: Happier at Home has just hit #2 on the New York Times best-seller list, in just its FIRST week on sale. THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE!
One more happy thing: Gretchen once gave a shout out to Retro Renovation on her blog — and send several hundred new visitors our way. She like the retro. Can ya believe it. I can: Retro is Happy!
Charlie Benedick says
Awww! You read my mind again! I am organizing, throwing crap out (why did I save orange juice cartons? I’ll remember when they are all gone and I need one!) I am trying to select a new paint color for my front entry. I need a steel gray/bluish green. It won’t be that awful blue my neighbor used will it? Will it look good with a Christmas wreath, or an Easter basket or a Fourth of July banner? I’ve already overwhelmed myself and the paint chips are scattered across the front porch…. I’m happiest when someone else picks out the paint color!
I am happiest when I slow down with my camera in hand. Instead of looking at what is wrong with my garden, I stop to see what is beautiful. I ponder about which plants to move, leave alone or heaven forbid! Give up on! I gaze at it like I’m seeing it for the first time, and finally… I smile and chuckle. It never ends, but if I have just a few moments of this bliss, I can deal with it. I’m happiest when I just “let it be”.
Debbie says
i’m happier when I’m in the garden working the soil.
John says
I am happier at home surrounded by fun retro stuff full of happy times!
Diane Bascom says
I’m happy at home when I hear from my kids, who are away at school. It’s reassuring to hear they are doing well and thinking of their parents!
I would love to read Gretchen’s new book.
Dianne says
I am happy when my 19 month old granddaughter comes over to stay with me.
nita says
One way I like to bring happiness into the home is baking with my kids. I love seeing them proud of themselves as they measure and dump the flour in the bowl, mix it up, and then pull the final product out of the oven. Plus, it smells happy afterwards.
Leslie says
I am happy when I’ve helped to make someone else happy!
Elizabeth says
I’m happier when I am with my two cats.
Will says
1) I actually saw a great youtube clip of the TED talk by Shawn Anchor with the keys to happiness. I found that the suggestions he offered really work. 🙂 You should check it out.
2) I actually am very happy to have a place to talk to fellow retro-renovators about awesome ideas. Thanks Pam for being awesome!
Adrienne Harris says
I have been happier ever since I adopted a sweet dog from our humane society! My husband and I cannot imagine our home without him!