Dr halibut hoffman wrote:
Copied from..
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/02/the-parable-of-the-mexican-fisherman/
""The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman
This story, adapted from “Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral,†(“Anecdote Concerning the Lowering of Productivityâ€) is one of the most famous short stories from German writer Heinrich Böll. It’s one little story with many little lessons that mean many different things to all kinds of people.
For me, it’s an authentic reminder that happiness is living simply… and happiness doesn’t have to wait until retirement. Your first 65 years are too precious for that.
An American executive was taking a much-needed vacation in a Mexican coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
“Not very long,†answered the Mexican.
“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?†asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?â€
“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs… I have a busy and full life.â€
The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.â€
“And after that?†asked the Mexican.
“With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.â€
“How long would that take?†asked the Mexican.
“Twenty, perhaps 25 years,†replied the American.
“And after that?†the Mexican asked.
“Afterwards? That’s when it gets really interesting,†answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!â€
“Millions? Really? And after that?â€
“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.â€"
Very good read, funny and reality - I can relate to it in the Mozambique sense, so much so - let me tell my tale regarding the locals that makes a living from the big blue.
Now, it goes like this, up to +/= 2 years ago I just take a breather of 7 to 10 days, just fishing, go to less traveled places along the Mozambican Coast. Being a but a bush baby, I ruff it out. Mostly just myself and one of my 21 dogs, depends who is behaving best the hour before I leave.
OK....so now I drive, sometimes just following tracks to get to the beach (with permit to drive on the beach et al) anyway....so I have several Safari / Pacific chillers, ready made food, meat, special bait and booze of course.
Now why go alone, well at that stage my boys were too small, and I don't like a 1000 friends anymore. Cool so I select a nice pozzy for my first day. Rods in and out, I take like 10 different rods, from A to Z...mainly I try and source my own bait, fresh - as we all know collecting your own bait is just as much fun.
The places I am referring to, are really off the beaten track, no lodges, no towns - nada! You do however get locals living along the dunes, they fish from rafts, now these okes fish for a living, not in the sense of coining a buck, but to put a fry on the table. Keep in mind there's no shops / spaza shops or whatever nearby. I found them to be top class sailors / fisherfolk, yes sailors as in yachties, as they have sails on these rafts they use for fishing. If you take binos along you will see them going out for miles and miles....so it's a feat in itself.
Anyway, now back to the locals....no electricity, no running water, yes they do have cell phones (how so??) a cheap Chinese solar panel...reception, well you have to climb the highest dune near you.
I always give them hooks, line swivels and whatever I can spare them. Should they be nearby, and I am into a black tip shark I will offer it to them, fair game, many around. They dry the shark and also fry them, or cook them in a stew, good chow, as I will then at night receive an ice cream tub, with rice veg + shark curry / coco nut stew.
ok, now relating Dr. Hoff's story to mine, I asked the dude, so why don't you catch more fish and sell more, of course he will have to walk some miles upon miles to sell it, or to reach the lodges......he said, No - it's not for him, yes just sells to his neighbours and the people around him, well not receiving money as such, but for a few potatoes (actually sweet potato) and coco nuts - more like a trade off. He said, I go fish early, I am back early - to take care of my goats, chickens, ducks and garden, as my wife sells these on weekends, walking miles as to be able to create and receive some income, so that his kids can go to school, so that they don't have to end up like him, he said.....well, I am not suffering I selected to do this, fish and little farming, to stay away from the towns and cities...."they are bad people"...Now he will go home....so the next day he will pop by again, scoring some ciggies from me, bringing me water...(I have my own) but perhaps he thought, eish this muzungu is all on his own...let me take him some water, Now for me, chatting to these folks, makes you think, that is why I have been enjoying them for years - salt of the earth, true to the bone. Most of their kids will end up working at lodges nearby, they will learn English and become barmen, boat skippers etc....One thing about Mozambique in most places, you can fish at night alone, with or without a dog....and no one will hassle you, no one will rob you, you might get visitors like the fellow I discussed, they will make you a fire, not asking you a cent......of course if you have ciggies, hooks, line and wine....you are the man. If they like you....they will offer you what they brew, it's like Cane (rough cachaca) and some local brew beer, will hammer you. At times it's difficult to communicate with them, as they do not speak fluent Portuguese, but a mixture of Shangana and little Portuguese.