It has been long thought that pensioners enjoy their gardens and do-it-yourself activities. Whilst this is certainly true, there appears to be a growing number of pensioners who are turning to the Internet for their hobbies and leisure. This band of “silver surfers” appear to find the computer their most favorite past time.

In a recent survey, four out of ten people who are over the age of retirement spent an hour or more glued to their computer screen. In common with other computer users, attractions include e-mailing friends and family, surfing the net for information, banking, and news items. The survey looked at a thousand people in each of eleven countries. Observers feel that this survey shows that pensioners are using the Internet in order to have a more leisurely and less stressful approach to life in later years.

It has often been a heavy task to perform the weekly shop in supermarkets, and pensioners are now finding the benefits of logging into their supermarket on line and doing their weekly shop. Having this shop delivered not only decreases the manual difficulties and inconvenience but also frees up time for further leisure activities.

Other observers appear to feel that the results of surveys such as this show that being on line is not an anti-social activity after all. Silver surfers appear to spend a good deal of their time chatting with friends and family and exchanging news, views, images, and videos. According to one observer “It appears you can teach old dogs new tricks after all.