In early 1966 Alex finds himself out of school and a prime candidate to be drafted. Like many people his age he is in the process of finding out who he is and what he wants from life. Disillusioned by conventional social mores he adopts a fatalistic attitude and towards the draft as well as towards the accepted definitions of success and what constitutes a life well lived. He goes surfing. His journey takes him first to Mexico, the Army, Korea and back to California where the doors of perception continue to open. Once out of the Army he sets out to hitchhike across the country in the middle of winter only to change his mind and head to Hawaii.