I've heard Clancy say that the old timers who are happy joyous and free are the ones who still vigorously work with alcoholics. He went on to say that the book has a precise instruction for those type of days described earlier in the thread - it is not sit in meditation, ardently pray, or even go to a meeting. It is to work with another alcoholic.
I'm not qualified at all to make an opinion for any old timer so I'll just quote Clancy, and just throw in that that is when I am most happiest as well.
I love spiritual retreats, conventions, conferences, potlucks, all kinds of meetings, but at my last spiritual retreat I wanted to drink and I was otherwise insane as well. When I got back I went down to the Salvation Army and read to a guy. It disappeared, all of it, and I felt connected to God and my fellow travelers again. For what it's worth, that is my favorite AA and my favorite activity - sitting across a table from another alcoholic. I hope I never forget that.