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!
melissa says
thank you for this beautiful and generous offering. our little tribe has decided to create space for daily quiet time, time together in silence and to gather daily for collective storytime (we have always done this, but with busy schedules our wholehearted intention is not always realized). we are inviting more happiness via silence and story (sweet togetherness).
Cindy says
I have recently found myself and my two boys in transition between homes, and as unsettling as it has been, we are able to help one another with understanding and kindness simply by listening to each other.
Mary says
I’m happier at home when my rescue beagle gives me kisses.
Grace Lenz says
I am happier when I stop to see what really makes my kids happy.
Laurie Kiely says
I am happier when I remember to BE GRATEFUL!
Linda W. says
Happiness washes over me the moment I step through my doorway. My home is my sanctuary, my base, my place of comfort and reflection. I venture forth each day to connect with nature and people, both very necessary to my well-being, and both sustained by the solidity of home.
Kelly says
i’m happier at home when everything is in it’s place.
Tanya says
Count me in! I would love to have some ideas to help me create more happiness and peace in my home. I think I will start with more kisses…
Jilly says
I’m happier at home when I remember to Stop, Breathe, Look around me & allow myself to Feel every blessing in my life.
Oh – & Kissing does it for me as well!
xx
Shelly says
This is Shelly from India (very different from your place indeed). As I live in a joint family (with my in-laws), I think that ADDS a lot of happiness to my life. I have an year old daughter and I feel content – she’s getting to be loved by her doting grandparents while living with them. And thats the fun-funda for my home 🙂
I wish I receive the book to make my place more beautiful, thanks.