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!
janis monachina says
That was a beautiful post. I am on Gretchen’s email list and find her very inspiring. I can relate to just about everything Margaret said in that post… I am a true homebody and my husband always laughs that he drives my car more than I do! A perfectly successful day for me being home all day tending to the “home arts” especially my garden and then meeting my sister with my dogs for a long walk:). Home is where my heart is and when I am away I miss it!
bookboxer says
The 30 second hug … it changes the structure of time somehow. Time that was whirling just settles in around you when you take just 30 seconds to hug someone special.
Elizabeth says
I’m happier at home since I painted my bedroom red and put my clawfoot tub in the master bath. I love taking baths and my bedroom reflects who I am really. Now, for the garden…
Mollie says
I often find myself grinning inexplicably while chopping vegetables. Sniffing the tulsi (holy basil), watering from my rainwater tank, and cuddling up with my man in the morning are all high on the happiness list.
TexasDeb says
I am happiest when my bed is made and my house is straight. Not cleaned within an inch of its life – that rarely happens – but picked up. Visual order helps counteract whatever mental messes I’m in and the balance is important to a day well begun.
Cynthia Landers says
I love good smells in my home so I always have Yankee Candles burning, a row of cuttings on the table rooting, and beautiful music playing.
MarjorieS says
I am happier at home when I feel prepared – I know what is for dinner, something is bubbling on the stove or cooling on the counter, when we have had enough rain so my garden is not dying amidst watering restrictions, when I remember my 11th grade trigonometry adequately to help my nervous teen study for a big test. When I am prepared ‘I can be of service to those around me and that – with a good book and dark chocolate – makes me happy.
Marilyn Kenison says
I am happiest when I have all the ingredients for my favorite vegegtable soup on hand and an unscheduled day to chop and simmer. Solo lunch on the porch and maybe a nap afterward would put the happiness grade over the top.
Laurie says
I’m happiest surrounded by family and friends!
Kim in Nebraska says
I’m happier when we finally get a good soaking rain like last night. I can hear my garden & yard breathing a sigh of relief 🙂