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What exactly IS a beach bum? Occupation Attitude & Lifestyle! All examined from a hammock, of course.

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What Makes a Beach Bum?
'In the Hammock' Examines This Topic

The life of a beach bum is something to contemplate from this hammock..

The term is as common as a wave, as prevalent as palm trees.

But what exactly is a beach bum? Is it a guy? A girl? A hard worker who happens to have a job at the beach? An actual bum who does nothing but beg for money while at the beach? A surfer dude?

So while stretched out in a hammock, Surfside Sam examines this important topic.

A beach bum is, in my opinion, one whose lifestyle revolves around spending most of their time at the beach. That's for work and play. He or she is defined by three things: Occupation, attitude and lifestyle.

A beach bum may not be a bum at all. He – or she – may be saving swimmers as a lifeguard. A seaside hotel employee. A professional surfer or beach volleyball player. A sailing instructor. A maintenance worker who happens to have a job in a beach city.

An Internet millionaire, stock trader, investor or real estate tycoon who prefers to ply their trade while cooled by the trade winds.

These are the professional beach bums.

And then there are those who could work pretty much anywhere, but choose to do it by the shore, who have jobs – sometimes for decades – that allow them the freedom and flexibility to pursue their real passion: Hanging out at the beach.

These are the REAL beach bums.

People like Luau Larry, who got a job fresh out of college selling suntan lotion on Waikiki Beach. And kept the job for eight years (some of his colleagues have been doing this for 20. Luau now works for an airline. That goes to Hawaii).

They are your bartenders and waitresses in beach cities and resorts who serve customers by night and go surfing by day. Or go sun tanning, run in the sand, play volleyball and in general just hang out and hang loose.

They are your pilots and flight attendance who have a ton of free time and like to spend it at the beach.

They are the musicians who play the bars on and by the beach. Is Jimmy Buffett a beach bum? Absolutely!

And one beach bum in particular is right here, Surfside Sam. From my perch in Manhattan Beach, I see, observe, write about and live the beach lifestyle. Come back for more, for I'll be exploring the people and places that make the beach such a desirable place to play.

All from my hammock.

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