u got 3 months to live, what do u do tomorrow

Man Betty cool story. That is surfers journal material right there.

 

I had heard the produce stand part of the story before but not what lead up to it. Amazing. I knew there was a reason you're such a bad ass!

 

I barely made it through this....not criticizing the message, just the medium: her voice is nails on a blackboard to my ears.

Having said that: well worth 20 mins & extremely thought-provoking.

 

No offense taken, Slash.

I get where you're coming from, I do. As for the A, B, C thing....it's actually D: none of the above.

Having grown up very poor, and I do mean poverty was a near-physical presence in our lives, this aspect of being poor has influenced my life. Helluva driver. Because when you're really, really poor, well, others control the lives of your family. And I came to hate & despise that aspect.

It's (probably) why I went into commodities trading, rose very fast up the food chain, why I made a lot of money & why I started my own company, blah blah blah.

But it's not good enough. Is it. You are a perceptive individual.

I chucked the private jet travel & the bespoke suits & the power that I had on my Street gig because it is total BS, IMHO: making money for people who have more money than most people can fathom.

Thought I could build something, a business, that people (employees) would relish, appreciate, empower themselves with. Eh. Not so much. Although I do have many wonderful teammates, and many have been with me for over 12, 15 20 years, there's a quotient that drains a person dry of energy & initiative.

Your two final paragraphs struck a chord with me. I really appreciate the time that you took to post what you did. You opened my mind. Stay tuned.

 

This is really deep stuff. Thanks for taking the time & sharing this with The Forume, Betty. Your last sentence. Took my breath away. Really something there.

We all find our own peace within our own existence. It is not possible to find it from outside. Meaning, the material things. Which is why I think surfing strikes such a powerful chord with so many of us. The ocean, root of all life, it is the immense intangible....and yet it is very tangible for surfers.

 

Yes, the ocean and me floating around in it is "me time".....no phones, no conversations, no competitive talking, etc. The hordes invading what I considered my space has been a loss for me. For a while, "dawn patrol" worked, but even that now, has become "cool" to the masses, or as you accurately label them, "human viruses". I always labeled teenagers as "human larvae", they eat and destroy everything and cannot yet fly, but viruses seems more appropriate....

 

Betty that's fkn righteous.

 

.

 

Time for Moon Patrol o barry, too many chickens that won't paddle out before sunrise. Trust me, it works.

 

I would seriously be up for this type of business adventure as well. I'll buy the beer.

Non profit doesn't mean making personal sacrifices either, Barry O' made millions on non-profits.

 

Surf get messed up bang hindus.

 

Betty that is absolutely tremendous. Thank you very much for sharing. Glad you made it and started surfing, you're always a +1 when you post around here.

 

Aw shucks, thanks

 

Yank,

Wow. In all our conversations you've never brought that up, but not surprising, you're not a guy to toot his own horn. Glad you made it and turned a negative into a positive, even if you had to pay for it (in many ways).

As for what I'd do, well that depends on if it was something debilitating or not. My Dad beat cancer the first time, second time it was a no go, but it was so debilitating he couldn't play golf or fish, the two things he loved to do the most. Lung cancer got him, and it's a really painful way to go.

I honestly don't know what I'd do regardless, other than try to make up for any past transgressions. I've tried to treat people right in my life but I'm human and I've made mistakes. It's what my Dad did. He was no saint and had a rocky relationship with all of us, but he wasn't a bad man. Like you, he grew up very poor, practically an orphan, living with his Grandma at CB and helping her clean motel rooms. Finding some leftover balogna and bread in a room was a bonus for them, meant they had extra eats that day. Like you he worked very hard and was very successful, but he had to sacrifice his health and his relationships to do so. The stress led to drinking and smoking, and never any time to take care of himself, and in the end the smoking got him. Towards the end he told me he'd give back every penny to do it over and spend time with his kids instead.

Beyond that, it would be a game time decision, but it would involve spending as much time as possible with the fam.

Sticking it to the credit card companies would be fun, but I'd have to divorce my wife first so she's not on the hook, but then figure out how to make sure she gets the life ins.

 

Id like to think I would do hoodrat **** with my friends and family till I die. I once had a person put a gun to my head intending to kill me, the one thing that went through my mind was i hope at my funeral they play death metal and someone appreciated the irony of it.

 

[video=youtube;LXZfuC0vi4g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXZfuC0vi4g[/video]

 

Gracias, T. btw, still digesting the info you pinged me regarding relocation.....much appreciated and will be back to you with follow up!

 

Out way before sunrise, at first light, actually. Around here that is about 45-60 minutes before sunrise. Street light are still on, and one can barely see the waves. Lots of fun when there is a sizable swell running!!! hahahaha!!

 

Some of the best waves are the ones you can barely see coming lol

 

No prob and no rush hermano.