The Pirate: Music For Van

The Pirate: Music For Van

By Hippie Beachbum

November/December 2021: Key West, Florida

Yo-ho-ho and slightly less rum nowadays! I'm becoming a little popular with locals and tourists from the music I'm playing. I've actually been asked to play at a few other bars during the day. I'm still loyal to The Rum Bar every night. I've been mixing some Buffett, Dylan, Willie, and other artists along with a few songs I ended up writing. Pissing In The Wind is my favorite original song, so far!

My sights are still set on buying that van. Resuming my pirate life on the road still calls my heart. I must admit that this bit of popularity is pretty cool. I may just add playing music during my upcoming travels. The money for the van is almost made. I'm planning on playing a bit more here to build up running funds. I won't mind a few more music performances. I may even write some more original songs.

The great thing about being this far south is the weather in these last two months of the year. Sunny and warm is the best way to go through what should be Fall and the beginning of Winter. There's nothing like sitting on a beach, in shorts, while the cold weather hits the northern states. I still have some good connections and ties in Georgia and Illinois. I'll be waiting until the weather is warmer there to check in on those two States.

Thanksgiving was a nice warm day at The Rum Bar! I played throughout the day until the Thanksgiving meal. After the meal, I took some time off for drinking following a special performance of Alice's Restaurant. Nothing like that Thanksgiving Day classic. There was, of course, some of us smoking weed outside of the bars back door. I felt I deserved it! Ahh, Key West, how nice you've been to me!

After returning to normal at the beginning of the holiday season, it was back to working hard to make the remaining amount of money for the van. Surprisingly, it didn't take too much longer to earn that money. At last, the van! A older model of the California surfer van, with a sweet beach paint job surrounding the outside, was purchased on December 12th. I took the van to a mechanic I met in one of the bars. He worked on making sure I have a proper, operating vehicle.

The mechanic took a few days to ensure the van is road ready. Now, its my turn to prepare the van to suite my needs. I took the seats out of the back for delivery and air mattress purposes. I sold all but one seat for a possible third passenger, if needed. I found a inexpensive air mattress to to sleep on when rest is needed. Christmas is very close now. It will be best to return to the road at the beginning of next year.

Those last weeks of December passed by in a flash! I began sleeping in the van as soon as I aquired the air mattress. I made sure to park the van next to the beach each night. Beachfront property without the high cost of housing is a sweet reward. It's nice to have, what I consider, a home again. New Year's Eve has arrived. One last performance, including Pissing In The Wind, at The Rum Bar before hitting the road!

My last performance, for now, was a huge success for The Rum Bar! One last night until I hit the road in my triumphant return to my pirate life. I am concluding my stay in Key West in a special way. One last night of rest on the beach. The sound of the waves arriving on the shore always brings me peace. I returned to my usual spot in the sand where I smoked some weed and slept like a baby. It is here where I welcome, in my own way, the new year. Capt. Jack Crane is back in full form!

To be continued........