My best friend, Jimmy decided to blow off life and move to Hawaii about 15 years ago. I was his mentor in trading for about 5 years back in the mid 80’s. He made a fortune trading soybeans, and abruptly quit to perfect surfing, and never looked back. He had not grown up surfing, and first rode a wave at the age of 25. When we lived in Minneapolis, I would regularly book at least one 5 day period a month where I would go on a surf trip(I got a lot of strange looks at the Minneapolis-St Paul airport with a quiver of boards). I took him on one trip to San Diego, finally got him up on a wave, and he was hooked for life. He became a regular fixture on my impromptu surf trips going with me on at least a dozen trips. Now, he’s living in a dump on the North shore of Oahu, enjoying life and surfing every day whether it’s in town or the country. He never married, preferring to charge big Sunset, Pipeline, V-land, or Backdoor. He sent me this picture of him surfing last week. I’m so proud of him. I know what teachers must feel when their students exceed their wildest dreams. Not bad for a Minnesota boy who never saw the ocean until he was 25.
the ocean scares bejesus out of me with its power. but i have to say, that is beautiful! to Jimmy I’d just like to add, way to make a great life pursuing your passion. that’s awesome.
Comment by High Plains Trader — December 31, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
WOW how did anyone make a fortune on Soybeans in the 80’s. They went into the dumpers for farmers and only recently started making a comeback.
Comment by thescoundrel — December 31, 2007 @ 8:42 pm
Jim would short beans every yearly cycle and pull at least a buck out per bushel every year for about 12 years. He put out a line of 3,000,000 bushels(600 contracts) and made pretty good money going short. I estimate that he retired with an excess of 30 million bucks, not that I’d ever ask.
Jeff
Comment by masteroftheuniverse — January 1, 2008 @ 1:47 am