A Parrothead Balances Life And Lifestyle

[MrTwain]

To most, Parrotheads look very similar to one another at first glance. However, if you dig beneath the straw hats, t-shirts and beer bottles you'll see that while Parrotheads may look similar, we are as unique as fingerprints.

Having been a Parrothead now for a number of years (I can still count those years on one hand, however), I've seen my level of Parrotheadism bounce on the charts like the stock markets after a Bush speech.

I started out as a Buffett newbie, cranked it up a notch to being a Buffett enthusiast, then turned it up two more notches to being a Buffett fanatic. After a while, I leveled off to become a Buffett lover, and later cruised along as a Buffett student, finally landing (I think) as a Buffett graduate. For those of you who have maintained such enthusiasm for many years, I am sure you understand.

Like the tides, my life as a Buffett fan has an ebb and flow... sometimes seasonal, sometimes situational, somtimes even hormonal. One day I love Jimmy Buffett's music, and the next day I may love it a little less. Some days I find myself bored with the old stuff, but other days my wife and I dance in the kitchen to the yellow album.

As summer ends, the days shorten and the temperature drops. School kicks in and my kids are busier. Our pool goes into hibernation. We don't grill outside as much. We eat less seafood and I stay home more often. I recently started a new job and my mental vacationist attitude had to come home to reality for a while while I focused on my new surroundings. Sounds kind of sad, doesn't it?

Some Parrotheads even debate whether it's acceptable to "winterize" their Buffett albums. The debate is truly a hot one, with supporters camped on both sides of the issue.

The approaching Winter and fading Summer doesn't get me too down. Sure... I complain to my wife about it and I ache to lounge in my back yard pool area. I am saddened to see my hibiscus, ginger lillies and banana trees go into hibernation. I hate leaving before sun-up and returning home after dark five days a week. Still, even with all this, I know and understand and accept that it's good for me to have a break from the intense Parrothead lifestyle for a season. Indeed, I get to focus on other things and pay attention to new ideas. I get to look forward to the Spring and make plans with friends for next Summer. Oh... and my enthusiasm for Buffett music doesn't go away. I just tend to listen to more Buffett ballads that focus less on Summer and fun and more on life and relationships.

In the end, how we Parrotheads balance our life and lifestyle is as unique as our own fingerprint. The best part for me is simply knowing that Summer is coming, bay-fishing is only a few months off and it's ok to hunker down by the fire with a guitar and sing instead of hosting an outdoor gumbo cookoff. Winter is good. After all, like a sailor's appreciation and adherance to seasonal tradewinds and tidal changes... it is the same predictable rhythmic, seasonal changes that add constance and comfort to our Parrothead lives. At least it does to mine.

[Conolulu]

I live in Florida...and don't really get the whole "Winter" thing, other than January & February I wear jeans instead of Capri's...and have a jacket nearby in the mornings.....and evenings...

But I loved reading your perspective...I've been doing this for almost 35 yrs now, and understand the different levels of all things Buffett...and how it swings from time to time...

I always tell people that "Change is the only constant in my life" and both my tattoos are about change....But I just realized...Buffett's music is the one constant all these years.....

Thanks for putting that down here....

[GumboPirate]

Very well said!

[catsway]

Amen!

[Caribbean Soul]

And I'll second that AMEN!

But FWIW I can't imagine winterizing my Buffett collection! It helps me get through the cold!
In fact, everytime I hear "Boat Drinks" I think of the one winter I spent in Minnesota (tho back then we sang along with these words: "20 below and the hockey game's on" ) And to top it off... the refrigerator that came with our house even had some very suspicious deep dings in it!

[stingray]

Keep the grill out!!!

[chrisintampa]

Keep the grill out!!!

i agree just stay close to it and keep the cocktails coming

a 300-700degree fire helps in any conditions and you dress even comfortably it should be enjoyable

[flipflopgirl]

Keep the grill out!!!

i agree just stay close to it and keep the cocktails coming

a 300-700degree fire helps in any conditions and you dress even comfortably it should be enjoyable

[TommyBahama]

well said!!!!...i winterize...trade the frozen drinks in for Brandy...schnaps...or any drink that will warm me up!!

[Joetown Parrothead]

great words!

[peejay]

well said!!!!...i winterize...trade the frozen drinks in for Brandy...schnaps...or any drink that will warm me up!!

I was thinking whiskey and hot damn.

[SoILPrtHed]

How True!

[Dezdmona]

I can't imagine winterizing my Buffett collection! It helps me get through the cold!

EXACTLY! Everytime I hear JB in the winter it makes me a little warmer inside. I couldn't get through the winter without it.

[ParrotHeadInThe Making]

Well, I guess I am still the new parrothead on the block having only seriously discovered Jimmy's music a year and a half ago. Wow, it has been quite a year and a half filled with leaps of faith.

Last year at this time, I was dealing with my mom's passing away. If you would have told me at that time that in the summer of 2008 I would be going to 5 Buffett shows, that one of those shows would be in Las vegas, and that I would meet some of the greatest people, I wouldn't have believed that all of this could happen to me, but it sure did, and I love it.

For me though, the most important thing is the music. Sure, I love the hype and escapism of the tailgating, the creativity that goes with putting together that parrothead look, and all of the craziness. However, all of that is just a fantasy that allows me to escape for just a little while. For me, this music is reality. It's the music that makes my days at work brighter. It's the music that has lifted my spirits on those days following my mom's death and made me laugh even though I did not want to laugh at times. It's this music that opened the door for me to join an awesome parrothead club where I am partying with a lot of fun crazy people and making a difference in the community. How often is it that a person can be a fan of an artist and make a lasting difference? It's the music that makes me want more .

[Frank4]

Keep the grill out!!!

I am a bit of an extremist. I live in the burbs of Chicago, I will be out there in the dead of winter with the snow shoveled off my deck, wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, with snow boots on running the grill.

[Tequila Revenge]

Keep the grill out!!!

I am a bit of an extremist. I live in the burbs of Chicago, I will be out there in the dead of winter with the snow shoveled off my deck, wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, with snow boots on running the grill.

Everyone knows a true parrothead would be wearing flip flops

[luvinlife]

My wife came to me the other day and said I use to think you needed an intervention when it came to Jimmy, but I sure am glad you are HOOKED ON HIM AND HIS MUSIC. It always makes you happy and it makes you have a smile on your face I just wish the redsox wood listen to his music all year long

[tikiwoman]

Life is tough and full of its share of ups and downs- it is nice to have one particular harbor to go to where all is well- don't know how I functioned before we finally got Radio Margaritaville on XM but after all the political talk of the last few months and all the bad news all the time what a treat it has been- I have been way more productive and much less stressed in my office of late

Val