James Kimo Garcia said his real job includes construction, painting and moving. But he said he’d rather be “twisting nature” at the beach. Seven days a week, he “recycles, reduces and reuses,” crafting flower bookmarks and crosses from palm leaves at his “office” on the Pacific Beach seawall between Woody’s and World Famous. He’s been enjoying his hobby so much, Garcia said, that he’s let his business slide. Though he doesn’t charge for the bookmarks, he does accept donations, which he said net him as much as $20 a day. He learned the craft from a Hawaiian, and people buy his products as gifts and souvenirs. Garcia, of Mission Beach, said he doesn’t need much to survive. He said his car and bicycle were stolen, but he still has the fresh air, water, coffee, a surfboard, skateboard and MaryJane, his dog. He said he worked with cellular, GPS and broadband networks 12 years ago. Now — claiming he’s not joking — “Thank God, my family has lots of money.” Twisting another rose with MaryJane asleep on the sand at his feet, Garcia said, “This is just something I do because I love it. I’m chilling.” Someday, he said, he might head to Hawaii to learn to make hats.
