Roger, Famous Vincent’s first mate, has his own new boat, and I had the privilege of being his first customer. Everything on the boat is brand new, and I was so proud of Roger for taking this big step, as we’ve become close through the years from spear-fishing together dozens of times, plus we call one another long distance when I’m not in Negril – though his cell is a little shaky, and his accent is very strong, so half the time I can’t understand a word he says.

The trip together got off to a slow start, quite literally, because he was two hours late, but I gave him a pass on that one and idled the time at Seasplash with Gus, just chillin’ in the ocean and sharing our life stories – something that’s common among tourists, even if they’re just getting to know one another.

Before all this, I loaded up on carbs at my Seastar breakfast, hanging out with Rick The Prick, who had also brought a spear gun but had sold it to Kimbo. Rick was worried about the gun making it through immigration, so he took it apart in pieces, he said, then put it back together upon arrival.

Among the interesting creatures I found in the ocean this time was a long sea snake, not to be confused with the eels. Pretty cool.

Later I met an 18 year old part-time expat at Ahh Bees. You usually don’t meet ‘em that young, but as things happened, his father had re-married a Jamaican, so he’s living here half the time and said he enjoys it a lot, though I wonder if there are many peers that young. The average age in Negril is 40-plus, I would think.