With the increased longevity American women experience, it is important to begin to define the strengths and resources women bring to old age. Late parental, married women with a mean age of 58 (N=75) completed an interview questionnaire which included open- and closed-ended and scale items. Data analysis developed four life-style orientations (Paid Worker, Volunteer Worker, Partial Worker, Family Woman) which reflected role participation in informal and formal support systems. Findings suggested that positive adaptation to the experiences of aging was related to patterns of high investment of both time and emotional energy in meaningful relationships in supportive networks. Although most of the women were involved in many aspects of their worlds, the family-friend relationships correlated most significantly with life satisfaction. However, both paid and vounteer work added important dimensions to their feelings of being people of value. There did not appear to be any one work focus appropriate to all women. (Author)