My quilt room is also my place to escape. My DH is retired but he follows the stock market so CNBC is on all day in the main living area. My sewing room is just off the dining room and doesn't have a door to close so I can still hear most of it and be close by but DH seldom comes in so the creativity doesn't have to be packed away. I just cover my machine, unplug the iron and leave it ready to pick up right where I left off.
QuiltE...have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your adopted family. It's so nice to be with people that choose to love you! I'm waiting to hear how your entries did at the fair. Will you hang your ribbons on your display wall just to remind you that it's really worth the trouble to get the points pointy and the corners square?
I'm so sorry to hear your neighbors have to sell their LA. It must have given them a lot of pleasure and you will not have someone so handy to quilt for you.