Jimmy Buffett, long-time Palm Beach County resident, in his own words

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who died at 76, often sang about sailing, fishing and just lazing around in flip-flops on a beach. He also amassed a huge fortune through his music and other businesses and lived among the nation's wealthiest in Palm Beach.

But many who knew him said he always came across as the guy who believed in working hard and having fun.

Buffett was a part-time resident of Palm Beach County beginning in the 1990s, and has spoken to Palm Beach Post reporters many times. Here are some of our favorite quotes, taken from a story in the Post in 2015:

Jimmy on living in exclusive, luxurious Palm Beach

“No one bothers me. It’s amazing. I’m not on television and that’s the big difference. I can walk around with shocking anonymity. People don’t know who I am. I went to Disney World walking around the other day and was stopped twice.”

Jimmy on travel ... rough it or 5-star hotel it?

“I don’t go looking for danger, but I go looking for adventure … Places that I’m fascinated with, particularly at 50, are places that are off the beaten path. And then, of course, my over-50 self wants to go, after I’ve been there for a few days, and get into a Four Seasons. … It’s always been a work-to-play balance I’ve tried to maintain in whatever I do.”

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Jimmy on his $500-a-day fishing habit and extravagant lifestyle

“I basically feel I’ve earned it. If anything else, I was able to attain the American dream. I worked hard, came from a middle-class background, so I don’t apologize for it … Warren Buffett (his financier cousin) said to me years ago to take the money out of the equation and see where you are. Well, if I took the money out of the equation, I would still be happy. I’d be running a boat somewhere if I hadn’t been lucky enough to go this way.”

Jimmy on the perfect South Florida warm-weather day

“I would swim before nine. Then I’d go to my air-conditioned room, read and do my Spanish lessons. I’d go to Spoto’s (Oyster Bar) for an air-conditioned four-hour lunch. Then, I’d swim after six and go to bed.” What, no midday surfing, fishing or boating? “I don’t mess with the day,” Buffett says. “Are you kidding? It’s the tropics.”

Jimmy on the record industry

“I cannot get into the mentality of what makes a record executive work because probably I’m old enough to be their father. I have never ever won an award for any music that I’ve written but I don’t care when I have fans like Parrot Heads.”

Jimmy on remembering how he started

“A lot of people say you can’t be creative when you have financial security. I love it because I never think of myself as financially secure. I always have the big horror in my mind that I’m a has-been playing the Holiday Inn.”