A young adolescent is struggling to gain his independence and to be treated like an adult. His rebellious nature causes him to sail his Day Sailor to a small island in the Gulf of Tampa Bay. While he is camping on the island, he discovers a hermit that is dwelling there temporarily. Through the hermit's wisdom and experience with nature, the teenager learns self-reliance and how to accept membership into the adult world. The old hermit is a man called Slim. Slim is a giant of a man standing over seven feet tall Slim has lived a hard life by some people's standards, but he is also the envy of many successful people that experienced very little freedom in life. With Slims help, the adolescent soon learns that the common, everyday mundane tasks in life can be fun and exciting once you learn the skills necessary to survive. The adolescent soon learns that Slim is a compassionate person, with an acute sense of humor when it comes to observing nature on land and in the sea. Most of Slims lessons are taught by letting the teenager do things for himself . Through a myriad of learning experiences, from shark fishing, to his scuba diving experiences, the teenager learns to appreciate nature, by doing and becoming a part of nature. He discovers that all things in nature depend on each other in their environment to survive, whether they are young or old. His attitude gradually begins to change as he experiences fear, the need for help, and the wisdom of his parents. We all need somebody that we can rely on, Slim once told him, and to become an adult is like becoming a reliable friend that is looking out for your best interests