The hope for a better life is often cited as a key reason for seeking recovery Recovery is the path to a better life but it is challenging and stressful for most. We know little about the experiences of recovering persons in spite of the numbers involved, and most research has focused on substance use outcomes. This study examines stress and quality of life (QOL) as a function of length of in recovery, and uses structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis that recovery capital (social supports, spirituality, religiousness, life meaning, and 12-step affiliation) buffers stress toward enhanced life satisfaction. Participants are recovering persons (N = 353) recruited in New York City, mostly inner-city ethnic minority members whose primary substance had been crack or heroin. Longer recovery time was significantly associated with lower stress and with higher quality of life. Findings supported the study hypothesis; the ‘buffer’ constructs accounted for 22% of the variance in life satisfaction. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed. The individual contribution to QOL of each domain is also examined.