He makes today's politicians look like choirboys. He had his hand in everything and was very wealthy. He died broke in the Ludlow Street Jail on April 12, 1878 from severe pneumonia. Sometimes, crime doesn't pay.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanaprastha
Alan Watts never explicitly discussed Vanaprastha by name in any major lecture or book to my knowledge.
Years ago, before weed was legal, you could buy it at your local bodega. All neighborhoods, in every borough, had them, whether rich or poor. They sold trey bags, nickels, dimes or 8 balls. After the 1990's, they started cracking down and these places all closed up shop.
There were actually two Sals. I call them old Sal and young Sal. I started go to them when I was a kid when they were located in the subway. Young Sal was my favorite. Then they relocated to 37th road between 73rd and 74th street for some time. After that they relocated to 37th Ave between 75th and 76th street. Their final move was around the corner on 76th street. Old Sal retired a few years later and young Sal and another barber named Gabriel kept working. It was a classic old school barbershop where you could get hot towel shave, a good haircut and keep up on the local gossip. Sal sold the place and retired several years ago. He is dearly missed.