Back in 2007, when unemployed people with no prospects were still being given home loans, we published an autobiographical piece by Andre Botha. If it was indulgent, dramatic and clichéd then it was even more wonderful for being honest and revealing. Our own sensibilities recoiled at his wanton regard for conservative middle class customs. As we preached fiscal frugality in our own lives, a unique brand of common sense adventurism that rewards exotic travel and financial security in equal measures, Andre lurched around the world, drinking, smoking and always riding waves.

“I don’t have a house, my parents have a house,” he said about his current situation, part of an interview that began life as a puff piece, moved to a cynical analysis of his lifestyle and career then ended with him calling us “evil losers”.

And we might just be evil losers, but at least we’re smart enough to realise a few things. While we shunned Andre for never opting into share options and negative tax ratios on second mortgages he made ‘expendable income’ his personal motto and may come out of this looking smarter than all of us. If 2009 has taught us nothing it’s that those leading the way might not always have a better fucking clue than you. Just ask your hardworking folks who set a fine example all their life and now find their super funds empty, looking forward to those golden years of overtime.

Dre has little education, no formal training and a travel itinerary that would make sensible, career folk weep with envy. When parents and schoolteachers and societal members of a similar ilk push for education and job security he embodies their antithesis and is clearly having a time of it.

It’s easy to knock guys like Dre because they swagger through life with scant regard for shared ideals but in a world increasingly prone to implosion there’s a certain moral irony that might well come to pass. He followed his passions, paid scant regard for the future and drowned himself in every moment.

So would we recommend this path to any of the kids we sent on our annual festival de la grommet appearing this issue? No, of course not. Their parents are very likely to read this and we like being able to look people in the eye. But when taken at surface value, it’s enough to have you cast aside any notion of common sense adventurism and let forbidden urges in.

So while Dre admits that his future prospects are basically non-existent outside of bodyboarding, he’s certainly “rich with memories” and if the world did go pop tomorrow - figuratively or literally only depends on whether you are a religious man or a betting man - his zealous if exhausting personal philosophy might prove to be the smartest investment of all.