A while back in this column, I took the position that art-making wasn’t just about “fun,” and contrasted it with activities that are pursued solely for the purpose of immediate gratification.
Upon further inspection, I have learned that science has confirmed my musings. R.A. Stebbins has written the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) in which he distinguishes between various types of leisure:
Casual Leisure
According to Stebbins, “casual leisure” is immediately, intrinsically rewarding; and it is a relatively short-lived, pleasurable activity requiring little or no special training to enjoy it. It is engaged in for the significant level of pure enjoyment, or pleasure, found there. These include: play (including dabbling), relaxation (e.g., sitting, napping, strolling), passive entertainment (e.g., TV, books, recorded music), active entertainment (e.g., games of chance, party games), and sociable conversation. These seem to be the kinds of activities that conjure up most people’s ideas of what leisure is.
Project-based Leisure
“Project-based leisure” is a short-term, moderately complicated, either one-shot or occasional, though infrequent, creative undertaking carried out in free time. These activities can involve considerable planning, effort, and sometimes skill or knowledge, but are not designed as serious undertakings. They are occasional, such as arts festivals, sports events, or birthdays, or national holidays. They can be creative in the sense that they result in something new or different, showing imagination, skill, or knowledge. Although most projects would appear to be continuously pursued until completed, it is conceivable that some might be interrupted for several weeks, months, even years. The main thing about these types of leisure is that no commitment is required and no benefit expected beyond the immediate gratification.
Serious Leisure
“Serious leisure,” Stebbins writes, is distinguished from casual leisure by six characteristics:
- The need to persevere at the activity
- The availability of a leisure career
- The need to put in effort to gain skill and knowledge
- The realization of various special benefits
- Unique principles
- An attractive personal and social identity
“Serious leisure” is where Creative Aging programs land, and it’s evident that unlike the first two types of leisure, these programs do require a commitment from participants. As we’ve helped organizations implement hundreds of programs over the years, we hear, not infrequently, the trepidation of program coordinators, librarians, and senior center directors that their constituents/clients/patrons won’t make the commitment to attend a sequential arts instruction program. By and large we have seen that when well-planned Creative Aging programs are offered, they are very well-attended. Participants often wish for more sessions, and some of them continue to meet independently.
Dr. Cohen posited that, as one diversifies their financial investments, so should one diversify their social activities.
Looking at these different categories of leisure reminded me of Dr. Gene Cohen’s Social Portfolio. Cohen posited that, as one diversifies their financial investments, so should one diversify their social activities. He described the ideal complement of activities that included those varied in energy/mobility, and those done in a group or by oneself. When we at Lifetime Arts first started talking about this idea 12 years ago in our training, I didn’t think of myself as someone to whom this applied. After all, I was working, so my days were filled and then some.
But as I creep toward retirement I’m thinking Dr. Cohen may have had something there.
For me, this idea seems to flip the concept that retirement equals the absence of adhering to any schedule. I’ll admit, that sounds appealing, and some days it’s especially true. But in the abstract it makes me sad. Without something satisfying to accomplish I imagine myself “keeping busy” around the house, tending to things I would only do when I have the time. With nothing but time, I fear my days will be spent cleaning, going to Costco, and changing the shelf paper. As in most things for me, maybe because I’m a Libra (ew, did I say that out loud?), a balance is what I’ll be seeking.
