For many homeless in the Bay Area, living on the street has come after a series of hardships. But for Sam Stone, it’s partially a choice.

“I just love sleeping outdoors, that’s the bottom line,” said the 64-year-old man with long flowing hair and a scruffy gray beard. “I breathe so much better. I can see the stars right here.”

“Nah, I’ll tell you the truth,” he said. “If any three of my wives sent me a letter saying come and be with me, I would. They were all good wives.”

Stone lives in Alameda, and has been on and off the streets here since 2007. He’s often on Park Street playing the mandolin and singing for tips, waving to passersby who know him.

He has had many jobs in his life, and sometimes takes construction jobs to make extra money. Stone has learned to live a low-stress life. When he was a prison guard at San Quentin, he had to keep his cool, even when stabbings and fights broke out.

“That old stress will get you,“ he said. “Live and let live.”

He said he used to know more homeless people in Alameda, but many of them have passed away.

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“They tended to drink too much vodka,” Stone said. “If they just started drinking beer, or did what I did, then they’d be healthy and staying out of trouble for the most part.”

“Moderation in all things,” is Stone’s motto. “Don’t overdo your jogging, don’t overdo your eating, don’t overdo your drinking and drugs.”

He had dreams of being a great tennis player, and he eventually did make it to the professional level.

“I was the best tennis player in Minnesota, which means you’re not a very good tennis pro.”

His dreams now are to compete and win in age-specific tournaments. “I still have dreams to win these senior tournaments. You could be the No. 1 70-year-old in the world. That’s my dream.”

See Sam Stone during his daily life in Alameda at www.sfchronicle.com/theregulars. The Regulars is a weekly photo and video column by Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin that offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in the Bay Area, caught in routine activities of modern urban life. If you know a regular, email regulars@sfchronicle.com.