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!
cynthia sumner says
I have a little slip of paper from a fortune cookie which says “Don’t pursue happiness, create it”. Since retiring, I am creating my happiness by working in my garden, volunteering at a nature center and running the local library used-book sale. New friends, new plants, new books to read….that’s happiness for me.
Nan says
I’m happier at home as each season changes into the next. I enjoy the transition from season to season. In spring, I long for summer. In winter I pine for spring…
Denise Orr says
I’m happy with a hot cup of tea on a quiet morning.
Annabelle says
I’m happier when I hug someone and we’re both wearing wool sweaters.
cindy says
When I sweep my kitchen floor before going to bed. Walking on a smooth, clean floor in the morning — no crumbs or mystery stuff sticking to my feet (small children in the house…debris coating the floor daily is a given) — makes it easier to transition into the day.
Shannon Aldrich says
Always look for the good in people, things and situations.
Susan Crawford says
The way I find true happiness is this: Look within everything and everyone to find that solid gold nugget of GOODNESS. It is always there, no matter how deeply hidden. Find it and latch onto it, it will make your heart sing.
debbie burke says
My home makes me happy. Even though it’s not quite up to my standards, it’s the place where my whole family belongs.
Mia says
I’m happy at home when he is vacuuming!
Molly says
Acceptance is the way I boost my happiness.
Accept a grimy sink full of unwashed dishes, a trash can full to overflowing, and a hallway littered with dirty laundry as long as I live with my grown son and husband. Accept that these are my triggers: my chest tightens, my breathing stops, and I want to scream accusations.
Instead, breathing in acceptance allows me to chose to clean again or not, and for now I chose acceptance to live with these two who otherwise make me very happy.