Dunedin, Flo — Money doesn’t make him happy, but living free and close to nature does. Professional baseball player, Daniel Morris, instinctively knows what makes him happy. In spite of being a top prospect baseball pitcher with the $2 million bonus from the Toronto Blue Jays, he lives in his 1978 Volkswagen van during the offseason and considers it the good life.
The vehicle has trouble starting and needs to be warmed up or it will stall out, but Norris is OK with that. The vehicle houses his bed, kitchen, a few pots and pans, food, clothes, and his prize possession — his surf board, his “baby”.
“Just because money’s there doesn’t mean you need to have nicer things than you used to have,” Norris said. After giving his Volkswagen lifestyle a try, he said, “This is what I’m going to do.” He just knew it was right for him.
“So I get to learn a lot about myself. You know, you’re by yourself a lot. It’s like complete alone.” He’s a simple guy who parks his van at the beach and sleeps out. Because of his simple lifestyle, he’s able to pull his “house” over and explore the woods and streams whenever the mood and opportunity strikes him, which is often.
Daniel Norris’ hippie spirit has not been ruined by fame or money. He is truly a rich man in every sense of the word.