Budget Vogue: There Is Joy Everywhere, You Just Gotta Look

By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Budget Vogue, InDepth NH

What’s been your joy this summer, Budget Voguers? Did you spend the warmest months delighting in gardens and ice cream? Travel and lobster? Beaches and the flavors of green so endless, they have words like lime, olive, pea, sage, pastoral?

My husband’s joy is his new Harley Davidson. After a forty-five year hiatus from riding, Dan saved and researched and, ultimately, found his bike. He delights in it and, mercifully, wears his helmet. I’ve not been on yet, I do find joy in my husband but not so much in loud machinery. I’m an inner tube fan as opposed to a speedboat. And, certainly I’ll try the motorcycle, perhaps at the height of foliage season – that seems to be a peak joy time to motor without a roof above, to witness the joy of color and crisp air. But what I do know is my husband found joy after a long break; it’s beautiful to see. Harley on.

Joy can be both elusive and so easy to come by – my dog’s ears are the softest in the land; rubbing them is pure happiness and calm. Discovering the Libby app this summer and listening to a plethora of books brought not only joy but a very budget friendly way to stay current with reads. The Libby app is free from your local library. No commercials. And anything library? Oh, absolute joy.

There are moments of joy that – to others may look joyless, maybe even depressing. I had a 4th of July – that, if you’re in New England, you may recall was unbearably hot. I spent the day caring for my aforementioned dog’s fireworks anxiety by bringing him down to the unairconditioned cottage we rent for the summer.

I read in front of a fan, dunked occasionally in the ocean and delighted in calm and very little movement. It was just too toasty for red, white and blue – at least for me. I loved that 4th of July though there was no grill nor photos nor even fireworks. Perfection. Joy. And a calm dog whose lovely ears were not stressed by bombs of cacophony.

I lugged a free firepit into my VW wagon earlier this summer, brought it home, spray painted it and sold it for $200 on Facebook Marketplace. That was joy. When I saw my friend, Doug, after twenty five years, he was joy. The Red Sox vs. San Francisco with friends? Fenway is inevitable joy. Healing from breast cancer and radiation? Recovered health is absolute joy.

There are a myriad of ways to find joy if you’re willing to look – a cup of morning tea, a blue sky, a canceled meeting, a good laugh, a hammock, making plans, canceling plans. Joy is around, dear Voguers, even at times when it feels elusive, hidden, drowned out by words like “Midterms, Lake America, Measles.”

So, here is your task, dear Musers, find the joy, the levity, the fun. Rub your dog’s ears, cancel a plan, go see the Red Sox, listen to a new book. Joy on, Budget Voguers, joy on.

Susan Dromey Heeter writes from Newmarket and often from the road where she celebrates thrift shops and delights in FREE signs on the side of the road. She writes of all things frugal and fun, second hand as opposed to Amazon deliveries. Follow Susan @BudgetVogue63 on Instagram. Dromey Heeter ADORES reader responses, stories and questions. She can also be reached at dromeyheeter@gmail.com.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.