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!
Jenny (vintagesugarcube) says
My happiest is boosted when I do something for someone else and myself at the same time. For me thats having some alone time in the kitchen, cooking or baking something for someone else while listening to a podcast of the “Splendid Table” from NPR.
Carrie aka MIFroggies says
I read a comment somewhere about “when I feel down, I go out and do something awesome!” I spend a few hours a week in volunteer work, this is a true way to make happiness for all.
Crystal says
It makes me happy when I am able to come home to a clean house because it eliminates the frenzy of cleaning after a long day at work. In addition it makes me most happy when my little baby cat, Lucky Dawg, comes to greet me at the door with his adoring meows!
Jeanne Henzel says
I like to get out an do something different! Change my perspective and delight in the new. I try to engage all my senses – eat something, look listen, feel and smell the air around me. Always puts me in a good mood! Or put the top down on the convertible, weather permitting, and blast some favorite sing-along tunes!
jat says
i’m happiest when i’m actively being grateful for something and/or appreciating beauty in any of its myriad forms
Maureen says
This sounds like a great book! Fingers crossed.
Glenda says
I’m happiest when on my walk I see so many wonderful things that usually we are driving right past on a daily trip to and from wherever. I love seeing what others have done in there yards. Birds of every species, honey bees( we see so few anymore)leaves turning color and just the smell of fall. Love looking forward to the warm cozy nights at home with candles. I love candlelight. These are just a few thoughts of what brings me joy. Now back to tending my shop which also brings me so much happiness. Have a happy day.
Diane says
I’m happier looking out of clean windows!
Cara says
Happiness is forgetting all the worries and woes of life while looking at my sweet baby boy’s smile.
Nancy says
I’m happier at home because we now have hardwoods in all but the bedrooms — feels cleaner, easier to clean, such a difference!