The Jimmy Buffett Standard

Someone once asked me what my goal in life was. I told them, only half joking, that I want a life that Jimmy Buffett would envy.

That's a pretty tall order. Not only is the guy a very successful musician, he's a pretty decent author and successful businessman too. Jimmy's been well rewarded for his talents.

This is the guy who bought a float plane with the requirement it be large enough for his surfboards. The man has priorities.

Some years ago my lovely wife and I were in Key West, hanging around Mallory Square during the daily sunset festival. My lovely wife pointed out Jimmy Buffett talking to one of the street musicians. Like an idiot, I didn't believe that it was him. Later she showed me a recent photo of Jimmy and his wife -and yep, that was them. I suppose it's shouldn't be a surprise. He does have a restaurant in Key West.

I suppose if Jimmy Buffett was doing the same thing as me that day I can't be doing too badly.

He might be able to fly his float plane to an island for a day at the beach. My lovely wife and I could get to the same island -after a month of island hopping in my small boat. Of course, he'd probably have to hurry off to take care of business somewhere. As for me, when you've got as little money as I have, it doesn't take much to manage it. I can take a month of slow travel to get somewhere.

You never know what goes on in people's private lives. Even the most empathetic of us can't really get inside someone else's head. That's why I don't normally measure myself against other people. They might have some worldly success, yet be dealing with personal demons.

Of course, then there's that darn Jimmy Buffett . . .

-Sixbears