Jim Dickens April 2026
Sheryl Crow sang, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got”. And Jim Buffet sang, “I’d rather die while I’m living than live while I’m dead”. The quotes make us think about how we live our lives. Well I led a trip to Key West with three good long time buddies to fish and it really got me thinking.
I ignored my earlier blog advice on not sending good money after bad. Instead, we all went to Key West despite the poor weather report and the warning from our fishing guides. The fishing was horrible and we cut days short to get out of a cold steady 30 mile an hour wind. The result was a lot of time to walk around Key West which has an infinite amount of live music, bars, restaurants and t shirt shops. It also has a crazy mix of cruise ship vacationers, international vacationers, RVers, snow birds, corporate drop outs, private boat people, workers and a few fishermen to observe.
There are a lot of lifestyle choices. Some are boisterous enjoying the music, others are busily exploring the local shops, there are the usual check me out in Key West social media types and a few exhibitionists wearing costumes or nothing. There is lots of smoking, drinking, walking, bike riding, chilling, sailing, snorkeling, and dining available and on display.
I like a majority of the US population but a shrinking segment drink alcohol. It will shorten my life. My buddies and I watched the Masters sitting outside at a fun bar, walked to the southernmost point in the US, discovered guitar playing Cliff Cody with his beautiful voice and had dinner as the sun set every evening. Alcohol was a great social lubricant and I enjoyed myself immensely.
I left Key West to join my family and see my daughter paced by my son run a half marathon in Jersey City. My daughter wanted to run a personal best so she followed a strict 4 month regimen of exercise eschewing alcohol and eating well. My son, to be a good pacer, did the same. Race day was a success with good pacing and a personal best. It was joyous not just for my son and daughter but the whole family. I felt inspired.
Despite the horrible fishing, it was a great experience. I am no guru so will not dispense how to live advice. Trips like this help you seek your own counsel on living life and like I said it get’s you thinking.
PS Between Key West and Jersey City, Pete and I stopped to see a new friend and go kite fishing on his ocean going boat. He generously and kindly took us out and educated us. We enjoyed his company immensely and learned a lot. We set the boat record of concurrently catching 5 sailfish. More to consider.
R1T Tour 