Only a longitudinal study, in which retrospective reports can be verified against data collected earlier, can determine what topics tend to be reported accurately and whether certain types of individuals are more likely to be accurate reporters. A representative group of adults (N=60) who became parents 50 years ago are now part of the oldest and longest continuing longitudinal study of adulthood and aging. Subjects were first interviewed at mean age 29 and again at ages 47 and 69. Subjects at follow-up interviews described what they presently enjoyed and reminisced about what they had enjoyed in the past. All respondents were more likely to describe things that were enjoyed than things not enjoyed at both interviews. As middle-aged adults, women were more likely to mention husbands, while the men reported on careers and hobbies. As young-older adults, women were more likely to mention friends and children, and men were more likely to recall their careers. Subjects also demonstrated consistency over time. Although accuracy is questionable in retrospective reports, the findings suggest that reminiscence gives a fairly clear picture of past areas of enjoyment. (Author/NRB)