And age class (50-75 years old) searches for meaning: New reflections on the essence of leisure among work retiress

This research investigates the standpoints and feelings of the 50-75 age group members, or "work retirees class" in a reality where retirement from work is also perceived as retirement from the individual's commitment to society, which also does not set these retirees goals and expectations to find their place in some contributing activity. The authors suggest that through "active growth in leisure" ("active leisure" for short), the retirees can develop a new identity that will replace the one associated with their former job, and will enable them to integrate in a constructive fulfilling way into the general society. The research hypothesis was that these retirees develop a sense of being non-demanded and disengagement from social commitment. The research checked what the most common goals in the subjects' leisure activity are, as well as their thoughts and feelings about themselves in order to assess the level of their fitness to the development of active leisure. The sample included subjects from four countries: Israel, Romania, Hungary and Ghana, who retired from work and belong to the 50-75 age groups. The findings indicate that these retirees, mainly the younger and closer to retirement ones, subjectively perceive that they still can surprise and achieve great deeds. They have felt being in a period of life offering multiple options, and most of them wanted to do some meaningful and important things. These findings suggest the retirees' potential to develop active leisure. These findings testify on the potential of retirees to develop meaningful leisure. The article ends with discussing the considerable accessibility and varied options in pleasure oriented leisure and absence of social and institutional support for adoption of active leisure patterns. As a result the retirement group is excluded to the fringes of society and loses the possibility to acquire a new identity, renewed meaning in their lives and making a meaningful contribution to society as a whole.