John Barbre recounts the many adventures of his life. His stories are all about history as he saw and lived it as a working man: a Navy sailor, a merchant seaman, and a saloon keeper. These adventures include his time in the U.S. Navy during the Sino-Japanese War while aboard his ships of the USS Chicago and the USS Finch, his time as the coxswain of the motor launch boats, and the trouble he got into ashore, including his court martial and ultimately being discharged from the Navy. John's stories continue into the Merchant Marine where he served before and during WWII, and during the Korean War. John paints a story of the history of that era and reflects on the "good ol' days." He writes of his time as a bartender on the waterfront in San Pedro on Beacon Street, as well as at Happy Valley, Del Mar, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to name a few. He describes his time working at a tree farm, as a railroad signal man, a taxi driver, an exterminator, and a country club security and maintenance man.