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!
Rachel says
I would love the book! I live in a 98 year old home and would love to find happiness in it. To find happiness I usually spend time with furry friends such as my dogs! Its hard to be unhappy around a happy dog!
Renee says
I’m happy when I begin a new creative project. And even happier when I complete the garment, quilt, or decor item that I made. Since I love vintage – I use my talent to make items to suit my unique style.
Linda says
Count me in
Kay says
I’m happy when the air is cool and the yard is full of goldfinches feeding on the coneflowers and stick verbena.
Fran Young says
I’d love to win this book.
In the past 20 years, my career as an international teacher has taken me all over the world and just about every continent (Antarctica doesn’t have any American schools, alas).
Now that I’m back and living in the Midwest, I find that one way to love my home/city/state is to avoid, at all costs, the uber-conservative rhetoric that abounds, resonating through all the church people who just love to hate anyone who doesn’t accept their beliefs.
So, my remedy? Just enjoy my life and home and husband and family and ignore the jerks! My house is filled with the findings of back alleys in India, and Buddahs from Asia, and art from big cities, and gems and joys from all around the world. I LOVE that!
Cynthia says
Happiest doing what I am doing tonight…canning homemade tomato sauce, made from heirloom tomatoes that I harvested from our garden today. With more to come. Whoo-hoo!
Bonnie says
I boost my happiness by taking a daily walk with my friends. A great way to start my day.
wendy says
I’m happier at home when I remember to stop and go out in my yard at sunset to watch my 4 hens go to bed. It’s an unspoken code among them, when the light level has gotten just low enough, they come out from where ever they’ve been pecking, sort of line up & march into the coop. They fuss at each other about who gets to roost where, then get quiet and seem very content. Makes me smile every time.
Carole Clarin says
For the past 2 years I have belonged to a CSA farm. Although just going there has boosted my happiness, discovering how to use veggies I had never before prepared and exploring many new recipes has definitely contributed to my happiness.
Jan Wright says
Happiness is a choice we make every day. Focus on the beauty and amazing around you.