A pretty good plan I think

Planning to dance naked this weekend?

On a boat?

In your house?

In your local county forest?

Me too!

Don't you worry about a thing. I made the perfect naked dancing soundtrack. This one's guitar-based to accompany even the most floppity moves!

Longing for the apocalypse? Try Rx Nature!

This 90-second video is 100 percent awesome – a perfectly crafted reminder to get yer ass outside. It also includes what must be my favorite disclaimer copy of all time: "Results may vary. Golf is not nature."

You should totally do this: ukulele edition

Cheap, fun, and easy. I'm all about all three of those. If you are too, and I know you are, then have I got the thing for you! Sketchy details here:

And then, after you've followed my sage advice and got a ukulele, hit this link to hear from a guy with actual knowledge and ability and such. He addresses everything from tuning to playing. By the way, he calls it an ooo-kulele. This is the correct pronunciation. I'm just not comfortable saying it yet. Much like SOW-na, and Regina, Saskatchewan. Also note: his hat choice adds whimsy to an already whimsical undertaking. You'll have to define your own boundaries in that regard.

Water that moves: Erik Abel

Sol slice 3 ©Erik Abel

"Grab a beer and relax. This might take a while."

That, my friends, is how you kick off an About page. And artist Erik Abel wasn’t kidding. Originally from Ventura County, California, he’s lived all over the world – sweet and salty fronded places like Bali, Fiji, Sumatra, and the Kingdom of Tonga(!). Not to mention New Zealand, Australia, and aboard a bunch of boats in between.

He was searching for waves, mostly, and whatever else it is we search for when we find ourselves searching.

It makes for a good story. What makes his a great story, though, is this: along the way Erik created a trail. A string of paintings connecting one place, one culture, one experience to the next. I love his work. (Check it out. I’m so serious!)

To me, this is what the world looks like when you worry less about leaving your mark on it and, instead, allow the world to leave its mark on you. Clearly the places he’s been have affected his art and, I can only assume, his worldview.

I think it’s important, this idea of leaving a trail. Of making things as we move through life. It's a line of breadcrumbs, the things we create, whether they’re paintings or poems or even blog posts. They help us remember where we’ve been. Those special places and times where, for whatever reason, things seemed to make sense. And... should we lose our way over the ensuing years, it's those breadcrumbs that help us find our way back again.

Big thanks to Erik + Nellie Abel for letting me share some of Erik's work.

5 reasons to give Xavier Rudd a try

There's been a voice in my head lately. The guy behind the voice (still in my head) looks a lot like Xavier Rudd. And he's singing Xavier's song Follow the Sun. While I'm not an expert here, I will say his entire collection hits a nice spot and would fit right alongside Donavon Frankenreiter, Jack Johnson and the other puka-shelled troubadours. I should mention, there are a few nature sound effects in the mix here. And a didgeridoo. The voice in my head doesn't care whether the world is on board with that or not.

Yup

Another writing remnant.

Twenty-Eight Feet: life on a little wooden boat

Every single thing about this short documentary is perfect. David Welsford traded his previous reality for one on the sea, living aboard a 50-year old sailboat he restored himself. The simplicity of small spaces and the sea, all together in one life. Damn. 

You can learn more about David here.

The Endless Summer

Sometimes I find myself missing places I've never been during eras I've never lived. Such as? Key West in the 30s. NYC in the 70s (alright I was alive but not of the recommended age for doing 70s NYC things). And California in the mid 60s. 

That last one is where The Endless Summer comes in. If you're not familiar (and you should be, friend-o), the film follows several surfers to Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Tahiti and Hawaii. Because "On any given day of the year, it's summer somewhere in the world." (Some decades later, the philosopher Jimmy Buffett would further parse this seminal theory to conclude: "It's 5 o'clock somewhere.") 

Despite the worldwide locations, though, The Endless Summer couldn't be more 60s Californian if it tried. It's the perfect tale of care-free wanderlust and adventure: beautifully shot, wonderfully narrated, and set to a killer soundtrack. In my mind, when I think about escape plans, they look exactly like this.

You can watch the whole thing right here:

5 reasons to give Bob Schneider a try

I really really really dig Austin singer/songwriter/messer-arounder Bob Schneider. You might too. He's all-over-the-board, but for those not familiar, I tried to give the gist below. And that Wizard of Oz line is killer. If you're up for more, I'd suggest starting with the album Lonelyland. Or hit his site, which is kind of bananas. The world could use more Bob Schneiders.

“You’re the color of the night, that’s right,
The color of a fight - you move me.
You’re the color of the colored part of The Wizard of Oz movie.”

You never know, right?

Something from my short-lived Instagram writing days.

Today is August 1st

Lake mendota, Madison, wisconsin.  Photo: @tobiassupplyco

Today is August 1st.

In 4 weeks, it will be September.

In 8 weeks, this dock will be stacked along the shore like scaffolding.

In 12 weeks, the scaffolding will be covered with snow.

Make of this what you will.

Find Your Love

"You know that dream you carry around with you each day? It's kind of important."

So begins a really wonderful video by Ed and Sofie Templeton. The piece speaks for itself. But since I'm always interested in a little back story: Ed and Sofie worked via normal channels (design and fashion) until one day they decided not to. They started up Soul & Surf, moved to India, and now they have pop-up surf and soul destinations around the world. Kinda crazy.

Oh, and that accent...