Attitude
Living the surfer lifestyle isn't about how you talk or what kind of clothes you wear -- it's about attitude. Anyone can stroll down the beach wearing a wetsuit, sporting a shaggy haircut, holding a surfboard underneath their arm and be referred to as a surfer. It doesn't mean that they're living life as a surfer.
Location
Being committed to surfing is living the surfer lifestyle. While living to surf doesn't necessarily mean you live like a bum, many surfers dedicate much of their time riding the waves. Visiting the West Coast twice a year for a week at a time doesn't mean you're living the lifestyle. Hardcore surfers typically either move near the ocean or dedicate a portion of the day to letting go of their daily life to conquer the waves.
Priority
Living the surfer lifestyle also involves putting surfing before most everything -- including attaining possessions, tending to and maintaining relationships and working. Not all those living the surfer lifestyle are unemployed. Some are not so fortunate to be able to afford to live without a full-time job. While many surfers put a regular job on the back burner to enjoy the waves, others work just enough to support their preferred lifestyle.
Profession
Some surfers are engulfed in the sport and able to make a living out of it. Traveling is something that a professional surfer gets to enjoy with the hope that their talent will enable them to win enough tournaments to support and maintain the surfer lifestyle.