Searching For Jimmy Buffett, Finding Scott Kern

For Norman Paperman……and all those other countless dreamers out there.  Trust me when I tell you that your Gull Reef Club ‘dream’ is real and not imagined.  Now into my sixth decade, rolling down the other side of the hill, I believe this is true.  I wish everyone gathered here chasing your individual dreams on a daily basis, all the best in finding your very own island of Kinja.  Don’t forget to send me a postcard when you arrive…..  

“Don’t Stop the Carnival” ~ Herman Wouk

Over 40 years ago……the story goes…..Jimmy Buffett and a fellow musician, Jerry Jeff Walker, ran away to Key West on a busking (street performance) expedition trying to get discovered, following his dream of becoming the next big country star.  While he certainly didn’t become famous overnight……the rest they say is history.

During the summer of 1997, me and Marie, joined two other couples on a Caribbean cruise.  At this early stage in our marriage, outside of a trip to Mexico in our early twenties, we’d never been anywhere this exotic.  I can still recall the guilt we felt dropping off our five year daughter at my brother and sister-in-law’s house, racing off to Philadelphia International Airport with visions of palm trees and aqua blue water racing around our heads.

I was 35 years old and a first time parent.  I had just started my part-time income tax business, bought a nice home in Moorestown and was earning stock options from my insurance company employer.  I liked my newly adopted hometown, I liked my young family and I liked my chosen accounting profession.  I was very blessed to be doing what I enjoyed on a daily basis, before coming home to the ones I loved when my work day ended. 

I can still remember overlooking the idyllic Great Bay harbor from the cruise ship our five island excursion complete.  Holding a Guavaberry tropical drink in my hand, with my baby beside me, looking out at this incredible aqua blue ocean water, I promised Marie we would someday return to Sint Maarten (SXM) with our daughter.

Somehow….more than a decade of life experiences passed before our aging eyes.  Life has a sneaky way of erasing those years of our youth.  During that time, Lauren grew up to become a young woman in her twenties, while Marie and I reached middle-age.

We canceled our return trip to SXM when Marie lost her job in 2009.  In 2010, Lauren graduated Moorestown High, but we spent my annual bonus on a new roof and gutters and reluctantly canceled our trip again.  I wasn’t sure if we would ever swim in those blue waters or walk on those white sugar sand beaches again.   In advance of Lauren’s 2014 college graduation, I decided this year would be the year we would return to our magical island in the Caribbean to celebrate Lauren’s milestone event.

Which brings me to Jimmy Buffett……

A quarter century of listening to Jimmy’s songs has taught me that if I want to be a successful writer and photographer, I need to get out from behind my accountant’s desk, experience life and interact with people.  Where do you think all those songs came from?  They came from his travels around the world, meeting people and writing his songs and stories about those adventures.  Now in my fifties, that’s what I want to do.

Before we arrived on island, I made a pact with myself at 30,000 feet that I would interact with the islanders, attempting to absorb the island vibe with the intent of relaxing and allowing the experience to come to me, instead of forcing the ‘moment’.  This time around, I was hoping to rely more on my intuition instead of my usual 6 page travel itinerary.  In fact, this was the first vacation in many years where I had not pre-booked every excursion or tour before we arrived at Sint Maarten. 

I hoped to react in ‘real-tine’ in words and photos to what was happening around me.  The goal was to obtain this mind-set going in so that the events I described would become a natural extension of the experience expressed in my pictures and captions. 

This is more or less what happened….

June 7, 2014

Today, we officially become part of Sint Maarten which means once that happens St. Martin will officially live in us forever. Family adventures yet to happen are unknown.  My girls are quietly sleeping in their beds dreaming tropical dreams. I should be tired from the travel day but I feel an enormous energy of freedom right now.  Tonight, I'm all alone on my solitary beach chair staring up at this unbelievably bright three-quarter moon perfectly framed by swaying palm trees moving in time to muted sounds of steel pan music emanating from down beach.  My Red Stripe is cold and refreshing.  The white sand is soft and does not stick to my pale feet.  I remain mesmerized by this moon, along with the stars and constellations which absent the ambient city lights are perfectly visible to the naked eye.  I just decided I will end each night at this new spot on "my beach" for the remainder of the week.  Someday my life will no longer be ruled by calendars, to do lists, notifications and follow-ups, etc....  When I picture what that future life will look like, I determine it looks exactly like this very moment. Good night to my friends and family back home at Exit 4......

June 8, 2014

Dawn comes early as I quietly head out to Coralita Beach on the French side for what will be my first SXM sunrise in 17 years.  The rest of the island is sleeping, so I’m the only person to watch the sun come into view over the rock formations a few hundred yards from the shoreline.   I observe broken white washed coral with unusual blood red spots lying all around the beach.   I decide to make a tower (structure) with these coral rocks reaching to the sky to mark this moment.  I fantasize that the early settlers who came to this island erected similar stone monuments to honor the gods and gave thanks bearing witness to the natural beauty that surrounded them, which now surrounds me.  

Off in the distance, I see I have company this morning.  I notice a younger woman (maybe in her late thirties) playing with her two dogs in the surf.  Initially, I take photos from afar, then remembering my pact to mingle with the islanders I decide to approach her.

She is pretty and French and speaks barely no English.  We attempt a conversation.  She motions to the homes in the hills when I ask her where she lives.  I tell her I live in the US near New York City at which point she smiles.  Finally, I get up the courage to ask her if I can take a few photos of her and her dogs.  She smiles and nods.  The dogs are very excited by my presence but I do get off a couple of photos.  None are fantastic but I claim a small moral victory for making the effort.  We converse some more and then go our separate ways, never to meet again until I view these photos upon my return to the States.

Heading back to the north end of the beach, I reach an observation deck high above the surf.  The sun has started to fill the sky as I notice a few people have suddenly joined me this morning.  A man and woman carry their young daughter into the surf splashing around in the ocean unaware of my camera.  A few minutes later, some local fishermen load their rods and tackle boxes onto a small boat, heading straight towards the ocean in search of fish.  Finally, a young man walks his dog in the calm surf.  I’m getting a front row seat to these events that more than likely happen every single day.  Today, I was lucky day to view these islanders living their simple and carefree lives right in front of my camera lens. 

Driving back to Belair, I knew this week would be special……

June 9, 2014 (AM)

“Come Monday” - Towards the east the sun is beginning to peak over the hotel.  Once again I am alone on my beach watching the waves rise and fall coming within inches of my toes.  It is Day #3 and we are starting to find our Island rhythm.  We're living on fresh mangoes, seafood and Red Stripe.  Maybe that's it....this week we are living not merely existing.  I just conversed with a fellow beachcomber who has traveled here from Alaska.   Dan told me about his scuba, zipline and snorkel adventures while on island.  I guess I am not alone in wanting to experience the active side of life on Sint Maarten.  Today, we will visit the world famous Orient Beach on the French side.  It should be an interesting experience with my 3 female travel companions in tow as the beach is clothing optional.  Oh well…..what happens on SXM stays on SXM. The first cruise ship appears on the horizon heading for P-Burg.  It looks like we have some company. 

Until we meet again…..Sincerely, "Cowboy in the Jungle".

June 9, 2014 (PM)

It’s just me and my Red Stripe back on my beach.   Tonight, the sound of the waves are competing with some tourists downing shots and taking selfies with some locals at the Gingerbread Cafe. The moon is inching closer to "full" status since the last time we spoke.

I can easily see why those Astronauts in the 60s went ‘shooting for the moon’. Talk about taking risks! It's grade school easy to live this life as a “Cowboy in the Jungle” for a week as a lazy tourist.  However, can I support my family and sustain a simple existence in an increasingly complex world, living life in Hawaii?  A fair question.

Today, I witnessed many examples of people living life. I watched two individuals a man in his late 60s kite surf along with a woman definitely in her 60s wind surf.  Standing close-by taking photos, I was moved beyond the images that captured both of these individuals "doing their thing".   I also met Claudia and Henry tending separate bars on Orient Beach.  Both were engaging and had a zest for life.  Sometimes you can just tell.  Witnessing these people enjoying life, gives me hope that I'm working towards something big and rewarding.  Right now, I'm trying to figure out the puzzle.  It’s fun and frustrating at the same time.

Tomorrow, we are off island, heading to St. Barths. Down here I'm searching for Jimmy Buffett, but I'm finding Scott Kern.  That's a good thing!  Drinking myself out of focus on the Island is suddenly bringing many things into focus.  What would Jimmy Buffett do?  Maybe join that crowd at the Gingerbread? Hopefully, more clues and some Island Therapy will be coming my way from 18.0067 N and 63.0500 W.  Tonight, I'm sending warm island vibes from Baie Orientale to everyone back home in the States.  Clothing optional, positivity mandatory. No problem, mon. We got this……

June 10, 2014 (AM)

Bons amis du matin....today we're heading off Island to Ouanalao (aka St. Barths). I’ve never been so excited to see what the day will bring us. I’m gazing up at Fort Amsterdam in the distance over Little Bay just starting to be illuminated by the early morning sun. I make a pact with myself that I will bring home this sense of calm I feel right now when I return to the stressful life that awaits me back home.  Lofty goals for sure, but I'm willing to try. And when I falter and I will, I will look at this photo and remind myself that "everything will be alright". That 'most' things that we worry about do not happen or will pass leaving a bruise but not a break in our spirit. I’m starting to get hungry for that ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’.....peace out SXM.

June 10, 2014 (PM)

“Tuesdays Gone”…… "Fun tickets in my pocket, visions in my brain, Jimmy told me if I ever went down, I might never come back again".  His song "First Look" has been playing in my head all day.   I’m searching for Jimmy trying to locate Scott.  Today, I experienced a musical/beach scavenger hunt some 25 years in the making.  These moments I witnessed today are very special and that (fact) is not lost on me. And to be experiencing this trip with the people I hold near and dear makes it all beyond special.  I will never forget the beauty of Anse de Grande Saline and Shell beaches.  It was truly like something out of the movies……

I recall driving down the hilly roads of Gustavia going the wrong way against on-coming traffic.  Seeing that French woman shake her finger at me makes me laugh out loud.

I’m thinking about the young kid I met named Greg who sailed to St. Barths from France 2 months ago.  He told me about the journey he made crossing the Atlantic Ocean like I would describe the details of a closely contested sporting event.  I hung on his every word.  He told me about his plans to sail to Canada next summer.  He is only 27 years old.  Wow….that’s living your life!

Our day ended at The Greenhouse Bar just in time for the 2 for 1 Happy Hour Special.  Our table was filled with 8 cocktails, Johnny Bread and laughter as we recounted our days’ adventures on St. Barths.  It was by all accounts a pretty amazing experience.  Feelin' a whole lotta love right now.....okay maybe just some local rhum.....but mostly love. Bonne nuit et de la paix.

June 11, 2014 (PM)

Hump Day has come and gone, signaling the half way point in our Caribbean vacation.

Today, we had a wonderful time riding two person jet ski/Rhino boats and snorkeling on the west coast side of French St. Martin at Happy Bay, past Romance Beach. Love these local beach names!  Our snorkeling excursion reminded me of the first time Marie and I snorkeled at Cozumel and Xel-Ha. It was our first 'real' vacation and first visit to Mexico. We were not much older than Laur and Stef are now. It was so much fun to see them cruising in the boat, photographing the colorful fish and green mountain country side of SXM. The best sounds I heard all day were the kids laughing on the ocean. I will never forget Marie screaming and hollering with joy as we raced along in the blue green Caribbean waters.

With the stock market approaching 17,000 it might be time to sell it all and make the move to the Island now? Anybody wanna join?  All the cruise ships have set sail and we have the P-Burg Harbor and Boardwalk to ourselves.  The sun is setting on Sint Maarten and we're thankful for an afternoon on the water snorkeling at Happy Bay.  Happy Hump Day to all. Love All, Serve All…..from the Sint Maarten Hard Rock Café.

Starting to feel that feeling of making sure we do it all before we head home!  I’m greatly looking forward to my daily morning beach walk and swim tomorrow before we head off island to Anguilla (AXA). My empty Red Stripe is signaling to me (once again) it is time to surrender to sleep.  I cannot wait for all of us to take our first steps on Shoal Bay Beach together.

Goodnight to our new friends in Happy Bay and Philipsburg.....especially Joy and Ryan.  Joy – Thank you for taking the time to try and explain the sport of cricket to me.  Best of luck to your nephew who we watched play for the Jamaican National Team today.  I hope he finds success in the States joining the Miami team.  Ryan – Thanks for an amazing day on the water.  Snorkeling in Happy Bay was unbelievable!

June 12, 2014 (AM)

Greetings from the Kern Family.….

We’re hanging around the British West Indies today. Sending love and rhum to our friends up north. See you all real soon. We can only run away for so long.......

Upon arriving at Shoal Beach, Anguilla (AXA) we shared one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen with 4 other people. It was like we living in that popular Corona (beach) ad from a few years ago. Words cannot describe the calm and peace I felt when I floated lying on my back in these waters eyes shut feeling the warm sunny rays from up above.

We drank rounds of ‘Knock Out’ rhum punch and laughed and carried on listening to the girls recall favorite Nick cartoons and shows from their youth.

Life is good at the beach…..especially in Anguilla!

June 12, 2014 (PM)

Back on Island from Anquilla.  Another Kern Family “No Shower Happy Hour” is in progress. We’re watching the World Cup at the Sunset Beach Bar on Maho Beach.  Brazil just scored penalty kick at 70 minutes.  Go Crotia!  When there is stoppage in play, we’re watching the planes land less than 100 years away!   So touristy, so very cool.   Enjoying a glorious sunset watching the planes come and go over Maho Bay.

Jimmy - Thanks for all your songs and for the last 25 years of albums and concerts which has amounted to roughly half my lifetime. It's been a fun week walking on these beaches and watching these sunrises/sunsets which helped to inspire the songs.....until we meet again this August.

Wasting away in Saint Somewhere.  We’re somewhere between Sunset Beach Bar and Driftwood Bar.  Look for the planes landing and you will find us!

June 13, 2014

"Got Friday on My Mind" – I woke up early and headed to Guana Bay.  Gazing from the shoreline southeast you can see St. Barths.  Along the North beach there is a patch of fossilized coral reminding me of Hell, Grand Cayman.  There are blow holes in the coral so when the waves rush in, the ocean sprays upward into the sky.

I decided to take a morning roadtrip on the French side of the island.  First, I drove through Grand Case near Happy Bay where we snorkeled the other day.   Then I headed to Pic Paradis past Lotterie Farm.  This is the highest elevation on the island.   It was here where I met Steve and Carol from Philly as we chatted about the Delaware Valley while looking down at Simpson Bay off in the distance, pretty as a postcard.  We were watching a tour group zipline down the mountain.  

Shortly afterwards, I then met Kate (local) and Paul.  Kate works in tourism on the island.  I inquired about photo and journalism jobs on SXM.   Kate is my new best friend!  Paul has traveled from the UK covering the International Billfish Tournament this week.   Yeah, when you introduce yourself to strangers you sometimes get some pretty cool results!

Kate made my day asking me where I live on the island!!

Upon arriving back in Little Bay, I was informed that the girls saw a stingray about 30 yards from where they were swimming.

Aloha Friday!!! We made it to the weekend. The Room #167 Tiki Bar is now open! Drink of the Day - Mango Piña Colodas.  Drink up for tomorrow is not promised!

The day concluded with a wonderful dinner at the Holland House in Philipsburg.

Good night friends, see you all in less than 24 hours.

June 14, 2014

One more final sunset and beach walkabout as I returned to Guana Bay. 

Walking on the coral, I constructed another stone and coral monument to the Island Gods, giving thanks for an incredible 8 days spent in the Caribbean. 

I chatted with my new friend, Adolphus as we both gazed out into the blue ocean waters.  I thanked him for the hospitality his island shared with me and my family.  My eyes started to well…..which he could not see behind my Ray Bans, but I felt he knew as we shook hands and said our goodbyes.

Someday…..I hope to build a life for my family out here among the palm trees.  Thanks for the memories Sint Maarten and neighboring islands St. Barths and Anguilla.   Until we meet again. 

Love, The Kern Family (Scott, Marie, Lauren and Stefanie)

Last entry and last round on SXM..... I’m beyond blessed to have spent the last 9 days in the Caribbean with the ones I love the most!  However, we come home to a lot of work and planning for the next phase of our journey.  Lauren and Stefanie will begin their post college job search, we will begin purging and readying the house for an eventual sale.  I still need to find a new F/T job and move my photography and journalism pursuits forward.  All said it was great to experience what our hard work and wages can afford us in the way of relaxation and escapism.

The bottom-line is our ‘Island Time’ has motivated me to work harder for when we make the move to Hawaii in a few years.  As a result of this vacation, I am convinced this is the life I was meant to live post Corporate America.  Time to bear down and make it happen! Although on the loud speaker in the airport, we keep hearing announcements for pending flights to the other nearby islands.  Maybe my friend Joe can settle the estate and wire the funds to Aruba?  I’d be willing to attempt 1-2 year island trial run there?   Cheers from SXM....

June 15, 2014

Back home in Moorestown, New Jersey, USA.

Our journey started roughly 10 days ago with Jack Johnson singing about life among the palm trees, continued in the French and Dutch West Indies and ended today on the Island of Long Beach, New Jersey.  

Tomorrow, I return to my job which thankfully affords me and my family the means and opportunity to enjoy life away from duty and responsibility.  So once again, it's time to make some money ("time to make the donuts") as there are too many places and things still left to experience on this rock!  Working and dreaming back home in Moorestown, NJ until that zipcode changes for good. Work to live, no live to work for me.  It’s too late to change my life philosophy now…..

Sitting on my private little beach each night, writing these personal thoughts in my leather bound journal, I know that after 30 years in the accounting profession, the end is near.  Without going into all the specifics of how the profession has changed (which it has) the bottom-line is, I have changed and no longer have a passion for this career path.  I am (and having been) going through the motions for some time now, happy to cash a check, pay some bills and take an annual vacation.  In my early fifties, with an unknown amount of years left on my horizon, I’ve decided this is no way to live my remaining years.

So, the goal this vacation was to bring home something more meaningful than a crappy t-shirt and a crumbled up tourist map.  The goal was to bring home some of Sint Maarten with me that will hopefully live in my soul forever.  Bringing home a belief that the islanders share; that ability to worry less and enjoy what you have more, to treat each day as a blessing and to be thankful for what you have.  I want these beliefs to eventually become my everyday ‘way of living’.

Life isn’t about self-imposed or society imposed limitations.  Life is about endless possibilities.

For many, Middle Age brings a mixed feeling of regret from the past versus a fear of the future.     

We feel paralyzed at times.  We feel we can no longer change the course of our journey.  We feel controlled to some degree by the economy, our employer (more specifically our income earning potential), our marriage, our health, our children, our friends and the lifestyle we’ve made for ourselves and our families.  Will I lose all of “this” if I make lifestyle changes in my 50s?  However, with a little less fear, some hard work (planning) and some luck…… all of these things can be changed for the positive.  We need to believe in ourselves!

People make changes every day of their lives.  Why can’t I be next?  Very little of my current situation (primarily my current employment situation) makes any sense anymore.  However, all the items I listed above are either excuses or crutches.  Take your pick.  We can change any of these circumstances if we choose to, but it starts and ends with us.  The problem is fear, mostly fear of the unknown.

I can only imagine what captivated Jimmy on his first visit to Key West all those years ago.  I do know what captivated me upon my first visit to the Caribbean in 1997.  I believe my destiny is to live near the ocean as that is when I am at my happiest.  How do I get there?  Hopefully, this exercise (excerpts written here) represents my first ‘baby’ steps.

The question is no longer…….what would Jimmy Buffett do?  The question remains……what will Scott Kern do to live out his “Dream”.  Jimmy’s already been there, done that.  It’s my time now!

A lot of work, planning and sacrifices lie ahead for me and my family.  Stay tuned here for the latest developments.

“It looks like some early morning island rain….but don’t worry mon, dis too will pass…..it’s going to be another beautiful day wherever you are……”

Saint Somewhere
French & Dutch West Indies
June 2014