My brain hurts from even the little bit of news I dip into - let's share some of our own good news!
I can just imagine how those of you who watch TV feel. The last four years have been mentally crushing....and the joy of a Biden Harris victory is diminished by the narrative from the media - if it isn't 100% trump 24/7, it seems to be 90 or more percent - And oh yes, COVID - maybe the correct division is 75 trump, 20 COVID, 5 Biden/Harris. Where we SHOULD be is 5% trump, 70% Biden and 25% COVID (and yes, there are actually other things going on in the world and the country, believe it or not!).
So, good news from my POV
Our family has reached peace with how we will do our holidays - Thanksgiving - and very likely Christmas - will be my wife and I (we hit our 40th anniversary on Dec 6!). We will do our traditional turkey dinner here, and touch base with both girls and their families via Google hangout. We are fine with our 3 dogs and 2 cats.
About one year ago, we found the house we are now in, setting off a chaotic month (but fun!) of selling a house, packing, and moving in. It was the exactly right thing to do at the right time...we are now nestled in the mountains of western NC....so
Yesterday we had one of our last mid 60 degree days, so we took a 6 mile hike in a nearby National Forest with our two big dogs. No wildflowers, few bird songs, foliage all dropped...but it was serene, gorgeous, and the hours let the stress of what's going on melt away. Our long hikes are our salvation right now.
What's going well for you....how are you finding some peace and happiness??
NOTE added after posting - this isn't meant to be a callous post, because of course so many in our country are hurting for so many reasons. But in order to have the strength to fight on, we all need some mental breaks, some joy, some smiles. Don't we? Don't we deserve it? 
= new reply since forum marked as read
lucky enough to be living out in the country in western Washington in the mother-in-law house in the back of my son and daughter-in-law's 1.8 acres. Surrounded by trees and nature with the Hoquiam river right across to 2 lane road. My son is and essential worker and DIL works in real estate, so there's been no loss of income. I'm retired with SS and a pension. Life is better for us than most of our fellow Americans and, we are grateful.
We've had one scare where DIL co worker had been exposed to the covid. Everyone tested negative, that was 2 months ago.
In our little corner, life is good.
two young boys, so the schooling complexities.
I join you in feeling really fortunate - my wife and I are retired, but have hobbies that supplement a bit - we both do what we love most days...so feeling lucky indeed. Hope your holidays are wonderful!
We just put our feeders back out - we have bears in our area and it is iffy, but I miss seeing the birds. Last year we had a Pileated visit our suet once. Hoping to see some Evening Grosbeaks some day - apparently they are moving further south due to food source interruption in their usual feeding areas.
Enjoy the day!
the disasters befalling many we're tight on money but overall comfy and happy in the lives we created for ourselves before Covid. Being able to go fishing, and chat with friends by various means, is what my 80-year-old husband needs to keep him happy, so that's baked into our recipe. Missing being with our family is the big exception, of course, but they're happy too, businesses going okay, they're staying well knock wood.
We're on a rural hill here in GA, lots of woods and calm. Yesterday a fox trotted by the window where I sat reading and watching a squirrel planting a new hickory forest (he thinks!) in what was once a little rose garden -- before the deer got to it and I decided it was time to replant with less edible shrubs. I've decided I can add another climbing rose, or two, though, to keep the out-of-reach survivor company.
Before long we'll head down to our ancient mobile home in Florida for the winter, where neighbors will stroll over and we'll pull chairs out on the lawn (i.e., mowed green stuff) by the marsh and chat.
Oh, not quite least, last week I learned that the startlingly sudden and rapid crippling of my hands and wrists from rheumatic disease not only hadn't progressed to serious joint damage yet but that the current flare symptoms should disappear over the next few months on medication. Kind of alarming when opening a zip-lock bag becomes a job for Super Husband.
In any case, the miracles of modern medicine have rescued us, and turns out I will be able to finish painting the sunroom in FL myself -- something I blew off last spring because I felt like it but am now looking forward to.
And vaccines are coming.
Stay safe and well, everyone.
As a natural optimist, the last four years have really tested me - so I have to take a pause and look at all of the good...it gives one a mental break in this very challenging time.
battering the roof of our attic bedroom while we snuggled in the incredible comfort of our bed. It even inspired my stoic husband to murmur about how much we had to be thankful for. We'll be in all day, just the two of us, chatting on line with kids and friends and taking electronic peeks at the world. I'll start cooking later.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. For all who get to be home, Happy Home. 