Only 23 percent who said their health was poor reported being very happy. And if you live with a spouse, your chances of finding happiness in old age are much better. Only 2 percent of seniors living with a husband or wife said they were unhappy, while 10 percent of those living alone said the same. Another reason for older Americans' generally positive outlook may be that retirement does not seem to bring on inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle. Sports and outdoor leisure were the most popular activity.
Experts say retirement allows more opportunity to explore life's possibilities.
There is more time to pursue their interests and to better understand themselves. Not surprisingly, age plays a large role in levels of activity. For example, frequency of taking part in sports or outdoor activities steadily declines with age, according to the survey. The activities older Americans pursue depend to a large extend on gender. The Medill survey suggests women are more likely to attend church.