Dear internet friends,

In case you didn’t hear the news, the legend that is Jimmy Buffett sadly passed away this week at age 76. I kind of got into listening to Jimmy’s music ironically with friends, before quickly finding myself captivated by a man who truly lived life to the fullest; prioritising leisure and an appreciation for the small things above all else.

From humble beginnings as a beach bum with a guitar, he rose to global fame, amassing millions of fans worldwide, acquiring himself a net worth of over a billion dollars along the way. His success can largely be attributed to his unapologetic commitment to embracing a laid-back, escapist lifestyle, which he openly shared for decades with anyone willing to listen and get swept along for the ride – me included.

Here are just a few of Jimmy’s escapades that make me question if I’m really living my life…

• He acquired a 1954 Grumman HU-16 Albatross seaplane named ‘Hemisphere Dancer’ which he used for bouncing around the Caribbean with friends
• In said seaplane, alongside Bono & their respective families, got shot at by Jamaican police who accidentally suspected them of drug smuggling
• Turned his first hit song Margaritaville into a t-shirt store, then a restaurant, then a chain of restaurants, then a leisure empire comprising of restaurants, hotels, retirement villages, casinos, cruises & more
• Gained a thriving community of fans, or ‘Parrotheads’, who do a lot of great charity work and gather worldwide to celebrate the Jimmy Buffett lifestyle – especially at the annual ‘Meeting of the Minds’ in Key West. In ‘21 we took the whole Vacation team to a Jimmy Buffett show in West Palm Beach & handed out free sunscreen & t-shirts to hundreds of 50+ year olds at the pre-event tailgate. I even had the honour of having a tequila-filled Super Soaker shot into my mouth (and eyes) by some old boy with a questionable aim.
• Spent a large percentage of his life at sea
• Toured the world extensively alongside his Coral Reefer Band
• Was put into a six day coma by standing on a venomous stonefish
• Cameo’d in Jurassic World – naturally running away from some Pterodactyls while protecting his two margaritas at all costs
• And about 100 other fantastic stories which I couldn’t possibly to justice here

To round off, I leave you with two things which I hope might make your life a little more leisurely:

1. A song: Boat Drinks by Jimmy Buffett. I think this might be my favourite song of all time. At the peak of covid, I arrived on a desolate beach in the Dominican Republic and sat alone with my feet in the sea listening to this song, and I’ll never forget how happy and free I felt that day. I ended up staying there for seven months.
2. A book: A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett. The ultimate Jimmy Buffett philosophy on life and how to live it.

Much love,

Marty

Hot Hyperlinks

☼ Is there a cooler job on earth than being an art dealer to the rich & famous? In the event that you’re thinking of becoming one, this New Yorker profile on Larry Gagosian (the man who bought one of the four Shot Marilyns paintings by Andy Warhol for a record breaking $195 million) may be of interest: “The dealer has been so successful selling art to masters of the universe that he has become one of them”

☼ Obsessing over Christian Louboutin’s compound on the coast of Portugal – complete with his very own colour-changing “party tower” (via Emily)

☼ 100 things I know. “Tidbits I've learned that have made my life better” from Mari Andrew

☼ Discover all of the 8,291 license plate designs in America. Why don’t more countries do this?

☼ 10/10 skatepark etiquette. What’s this trick called? (via Emily)

Hotter Hyperlinks

Reserved with utmost care for the most discerning followers of leisure...

☼ 50 of the weirdest, most wonderful corners of the web, including:

• The University of Oakland’s collection of things that are returned inside their library books
• This site which lets you combine live air traffic control chatter with ambient tracks from SoundCloud
• PostSecret: the long-standing blog which lets anyone confess their secrets via anonymous postcard

☼ Casio’s new Privia digital piano is a beautiful work of art

☼ If you ever wannt to step inside of Windows XP simply visit Uzbekistan

☼ This new tow bar mounted tent from Thule offers a great alternative to both roof-tents and ground tents. I’m not sure I’m convinced that it’s better than having a Suzuki Jimny with a roof tent, but it’s definitely another thing that reminds me that camping road trips with friends are probably one of the best things you can do in this world – no fancy gear required.

☼ Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Matthew Johnson answers 24 huge questions about psychedelics. I’ve recently experimented with microdosing psilocybin and have had very positive results (not a recommendation - your mileage may vary). If you’re intrigued by the idea, here are a few more relevant links:

• Netflix Show: How to Change Your Mind (specifically Episode 2)
• Andrew Huberman Podcast: How Psilocybin Can Rewire Our Brain, Its Therapeutic Benefits & Its Risks

☼ TERMINO’s modular kitchen system is inspired by ever-evolving lifestyles and a believe that rigid kitchen layouts should be a thing of the past. I love that they’re facilitating the option to re-sell parts that you’re no longer using; if I knew I could buy into their ecosystem throughout my home and easily buy/sell used pieces I would be one very loyal customer (via Emily)

☼ The tile lamp from Joe Fentress looks extremely pleasing (he also explains how to make it)

☼ My soundtrack for the week? Two hours of in-store music from K-Mart in 1973 created by a company called "Special Recordings, Inc." (great name)

☼ Artist/architect Jason Sargenti is making wild art-deco birdhouses. I feel like the birds near my house really deserve something like this.

Until next time!

See you online ☼

Marty