Leisure Options in Retirement

       Several nights ago, Elizabeth and I gathered together with 6 friends whom we have known for a very long time to discuss a book titled The Spirit Level: Why equality is Better for Everyone; a topic very relevant to the current tension between haves and have-nots around the world including Canada. Of the eight persons attending five are formally retired.

The discussion was lively and very satisfying and can surely be classified as a leisure activity.  According to Wikipedia “Leisure, or free time, is time spent away from business, work, and domestic chores. It is also the periods of time before or after necessary activities such as eating, sleeping, etc. We had a wonderful meal with each couple bringing part of the food.

      I was triggered to look for some research about leisure and retirement and was surprised to find a Journal Leisure Studies and in my search came across an article focused on Retirees[i]. Whether we are retired or not “psychological well-being such as self-acceptance, sense of control, good interpersonal relationships, a sense of having a goal in life, personal growth and relative independence” are major requirements of Successful Aging.  T

The study cited below, using a leisure benefits scale, found seven types of leisure benefits “..companionship in activity, strengthening primary relationships, competence and skill development, expression and personal development, health and exercise, meeting role expectations and general enjoyment.”

      In the study the Nimrod provided a table that listed 39 activities connected to Activity Factors such as; popular culture, spirituality, news papers, computer activities and following other generations within our families.(there are others, I just selected the eight that I am particularly interested in.

ü    Art exhibitions—Since Elizabeth has been taking Fine Arts classes. I have gone to a number of galleries and I will never forget the one’s we visited in Paris and Barcelona several years ago

ü    Books—I love books!! My current favorites are Terry Brooks and Robert Ludlum and of course The Lord of The Ring series which I have read several times.

ü    TV—I probably spend too much time watching TV, In any case by current favorites

ü    Children—Our children are all adults now but they live in different cities so I don’t see them very often but when I do, it’s very enjoyable.

ü    Daily News Papers--We get the Vancouver Sun and I always read CANADAWORLD first it’s fascinating but not always pleasurable.

ü    Computer Games—I like Big Fish, prefer adventure games, and am frustrated with hidden object games.

ü    Internet—The Internet itself is amazing.  Pretty good for someone who was young when TV first entered our homes.

ü    Finally; Listening to music—I have a radio next to where I am sitting typing this blog entries. I love music and it is one of the major attractions of Glee.

           Well that’s it I think it’s time for me to go out and have a bike ride.

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[i] [i] Nimrod, G. (2007) Retirees’ Leisure: Activities, Benefits, and their Contribution to Life Satisfaction