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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
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Mood: Just dancing through life
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The Rat Race put in Perspective
For JR & Herb
A boat docked in a tiny Baja village. An American tourist 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?"
"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 full life."
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. 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 middleman, you can 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 enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.
"And after that?"
"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!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?"
"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 singing with your friends."
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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Herb
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Location: Torrance, CA
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Great Post Bernie...
Reminds me of a guy that JR and I met near La Poza Grande, who was complaining that the poor fishermen that we were giving donations to were only poor
because they were lazy. This guy was a poacher of abalone and anything else illegal he could get his hands on that would put more cash in his pocket.
He was prould of the fact that he could buy his kids anything they wanted and that he never had to depend on the kindness of strangers. Funny thing
is, this guy was consistently agitated on wound up (probably on drugs) and appeared generally unhappy about everything in the world. The supposedly
"poor" and "lazy" fishermen seemed happier than anyone I had ever met...
It also brings to mind a website that I found a while back when searching for information on La Bocana / Puerto Santo Tomas. It was put up by a couple
of engineers who decided to "donate" their services to some of the "poor" ejido farmers to help them improve efficiency. These guys were stunned to
find no takers in the areas along Highway 1 south of Ensenada. The Ejido folks wanted no part of anything that was going to create more work for them.
They were perfectly happy with their lives the way they were...
These guys finally ended up helping the owner of the Puerto Santo Tomas fishing "resort" create a more efficient generator. I always find it funny how
much of the civilized world has not figured out that wealth, efficiency, productivity and happiness are not synonyms. I've even looked it up in a
Thesaurus just to make sure. 
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Skeet/Loreto
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Yea!!!!
And Sir , that is the Reason I went to Baja in 1968, found the Sea and the people and Fell in Love.
"Chico" of San Nicalos fits the Bill, when I brought Vegetable Seeds to him for Planting, thinking that it would help have more food. He looks at me
and Says" Mosco, if I get Hungrey I get in my Panga, catch some Fish, then I am not Hungrey anymore" Why work in the Hot Sun to Plant Seeds when fish
are in the Sea?
Skeet/Loreto
"In God I Trust"
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Markitos
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Registered: 1-4-2004
Location: San Diego/La Paz
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Mood: let me check
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Live Simply/Simply Live :
La vida es corta We all knowing gringos have so much to learn.
All that wonder are not lost
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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On changing habits
There is quite a dilemma going on right now in Baja. The natives have seen much of the outside world through the eyes of their children.
They know that with money you can buy things that before, you never realized you even needed. But, they might be fun or whatever.
About half of the young people in the mountains would like to have these "new" gadgets as well as more money, and the other half would prefer it
stay the same. (both groups are related and are the healthiest and happiest of people).
Some of their kids have gone off to college in the big cities. These people are highly susceptable to outside influence and when they attend schools
in the big cities, they are mixed with people that are into basically everything.
I have already seen the effects of this on an innocent friend from the mountains. 2 years ago he started going to college and now he has a drug
problem. This is just beginning here but will be so out of control because of the innocent victims who only know trust. It's a shame. The u.s. moving
south!
This is one of the main reasons I chose San Bartolo for my bamboo projects. The locals asked me about what could be done to keep their kids away
from Los Barriles or La Paz where they have to go to school or work. They have already had their victims there and want to put a stop to it before it
gets out of control.
Thus, San Bartolo Bamboo is happening. They will have local employment working with all aspects of bamboo, learning, teaching, staying away from the
influences of the gringos and city life, and continueing their healthy happy ranchero lifestyle. With a little more money in their pockets for better
tools and things.
The best of both worlds so to speak.
The good part is that, most all of these kids prefer to spend the weekends with their parents and family rather than whatever it is the u.s. teenagers
want to do. I was amazed!
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JZ
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My wife's reaction to this when I e-mailed it to her
"I like the rat race." 
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Many do JZ
that's why there is one !
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Barry A.
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JR---it is not the fault of the USA
JR---I applaud what you are going to be doing in San Bartolo, and you are doing it for all the right reasons (I think).
But, I take exception to your comments about the USA, and it's "influence" on young people. The USA offers more CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES than,
perhaps, any other place on earth, to a bigger cross section of the USA population. The key words here are "choices & opportunities". It is up to each
individual to evaluate and decide which way they are going to go. This is true everywhere----we USA folks just have more choices to make than most
folks do. That is what freedom is all about! Each individual must be responsible enough to "do the right thing", and consider the consequences of
what they do. This is true everywhere. It does not take a high IQ to figure this out, but it does take parental, and peer, guidance to set the stage
for those kids within their sphere of influence, and push them in the right direction, whatever it takes.
It seems to me to be short sighted and confused to be blaming a "country" for the mistakes of some of it's individual citizens.
What I see you doing in San Bartolo is being parental and intelligent in giving the kids more opportunities to choose from-----that is good!!! I
applaud you!!! but it has nothing to do with the USA, in my humble opinion.
Barry
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bajalera
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Great story, Bernie!
Lera
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jrbaja
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-2-2003
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One of the key issues here is
" Each individual must be responsible enough to "do the right thing", and consider the consequences of what they do. This is true everywhere."
Unfortunately, the many gringos that come here from the u.s. show an extreme lack of respect for the locals and think that because it is Mexico,
anything goes.
They could not be more wrong and in fact, the punishments for these actions here are dealt with severely and immediately. Not some nonsensical
court/attorneys deal as you have there.
And yes, it is true, the u.s. does have a lot of opportunities and choices that many other places don't. But, the ones that generally can afford to
take vacations, a small minority of the taxpayers to be sure, generally think they are "all that" because of being american. And they introduce
getting drunk, taking drugs, and staying up late to people that have not experienced this lifestyle before.
It definitely has it's allure as most of us have experienced at one time or another but, for these people, it is devastating.
Now, before the anti american name calling starts, I am not anti american. I disagree with many things up there that in my opinion would be better
off for All of you. But no one seems to care so I stopped taliking about them.
But, when it comes to what I see going on in Baja, I know of what I speak. I pay attention to things I am concerned with and this peninsula is a big
one.
What I say is true, some of you can pretend like it isn't happening if you will but the reality is, Baja is changing rapidly and unfortunately, the
party, nightlife and drug scene is one of the fist changes to arrive. Mostly because of american tourists and their desires and examples.
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Barry A.
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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On a beach in Sonora
Jr-----You make some excellent points, but I have to tell this little story to hopefully illustrate my point:
Once upon a time on a deserted beach in Sonora known as San Carlos (there was nothing there, then), long, long ago (1954), a friend of mine, and
myself, were hiking down the deserted beach sober as church mice. We were both 16 yrs old. We came upon a shade structure, out in the middle of
nowhere, with loud mexican music, a large cooler full of ice and beer, and about 15 young cowboys, all in their 20's, I would guess, and obviously
having a real good time. That day the vaqueros introduced me and my friend to CARTA BLANCA, charging us .11 cents a bottle. Now, this was the first
beer I had ever had, my friend also. We each had about 6 beers a piece, and I don't have to tell you the condition we were in when we got back to our
camp about 3 miles up the beach. But we did have a good time. The cowboys did too.
I guess you think that we should have become alcoholics from that time on, and should have eternally blamed Mexico for corrupting us forever. I am
not an alcoholic (I don't think???), and I certainly do not blame Mexico for my condition that day.
I remember this eposode so vividly today, that in my minds eye I can see every detail, and remember what a blast we had----but, the next day my friend
and I moved on, and continued our life in a reasonably normal way. We both still love Mexico, and the Mexican people, and it would never occur to us
to blame anybody for what happened that day.
Now, I am not going to get into the stories about my many experiences in Tijuana later on-----I guess the Mexicanos were trying to corrupt me further,
tho-----I just never realized it until I read your post. I will have to think about that.
I have to admit that I agree with much that you say, but not what I perceive to be the USA bashing-----we all know that there are knotheads in every
society, and we both apparently have seen them in action. (I even have been "one", occasionally, I would guess)
I do wish you every success in your San Bartolo enterprise. Barry
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jrbaja
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Thank you Barry
Perhaps my Knotheadedness is why I am somewhat disturbed by what I see happening.
I am a firm believer that unless everything is discussed out in the open, nothing will be done to change or improve things.
Nowadays, it's not just Carta Blanca anymore.
What a great introduction to the "wilds" of Mexico" you had then!
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Margie
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The meth problem in the Ejidos, and other neighborhoods in Mexico was introduced by the Mexican Drug manufacturers and dealers themselves. It is a
cheap and easy drug for the kids to buy and take, and they are.
Wanton alcohol abuse was always a problem down here, established back during the days of prohibition. Take a look at the older Camps where the
Americanos are dying off, the major percentage of them being alcoholics.
It is the Mexican government that is shooting itself it in foot by economic reliance and it's appeal to Tourism, instead of developing infrastructure
and resources for it's own citizens.
The days of the Vagabundos are over.
An so, JR, you have the locals weaving bamboo so you canprofit later from your so-called health spa. And what will their lives be like, say 10 to 20
years down the line without a secondary education? This is a shame. Too bad they are not going off to Secondaria and maybe even University to learn
skills that will take them into the 21st centruy, and make their lives better. Unfortunately, without the perspectives of educated indigenous
peoples, rampant industrialization will take the lead.
Well, for all you romantics out there, I suppose this is a good way to keep them "in thier place" so you can have a paradise and control. Typical
imperialists, masked in the untruth that they know what is best for the natives.
[Edited on 7-12-2004 by Margie]
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Herb
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Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: Torrance, CA
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Margie, you missed the whole point...
of Bernie's Story. Is what you call "progress" really so much better?
I live in a "nice" US neigborhood where nearly every household has a six figure income. A large percentage of the folks in this community are college
graduates as well. Yet I have never met anyone in my neighborhood that is as happy as most of the "poor" folks I run across in Baja's rural back
country.
So who is really better off? The person who dies happy, or the person who dies with more things, more "culture" and more education? (& more headaches)
I guess maybe I have a different perspective based on my upbringing. I remember many conversations with my mother about how she grew up poor. The
problem was, she did not know that she was poor. Everyone else around her was poor and there was no television bringing her images of how she "should"
be living. To her, her life was just normal. And she was happy, because she had a loving family. Only when she went away to college did she learn how
"deprived" she had been (though she still does not see it that way to this day.)
I'm also at a loss on how you drew a connection between JR's bamboo and kids not going to secondary If you knew him (or what you were talking about), you would know how much he encourages those parents to make sure
their kids go to school. Their world is changing rapidly and they will need that education in order to not be stuck cleaning the toilets of that new
"advanced" society that is coming.
I think the earlier posts made it pretty clear that he is partnering with them to offer an alternative choice to still live a simpler/happier rural
life after graduation. This is a choice that has also become a huge trend here in the US as more families rediscover what is really important in life.
They are fleeing from the big urban "cultural" cetners and back into the rural contryside in larger numbers every year.
Are you sure it is not you who wants to deprive the Mexican people of that same choice in your rush to bring them into what you have visualized should
be their modern future?
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Barry A.
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Say what????????
Marjie----you are completely over my head in your reference to JR's activities-----the rest I understand, but again, these folks are making decisions
for themselves and have decided to go that way. We cannot control the way individuals take on life, nor should we. That's their decision.
Your points about tourism is interesting-----what else would you have the citizens of Baja CA doing-????---not a lot of resources down there besides
natural beauty, and sea life. The freshwater problem has to be solved, first. And as far as gringos exploiting locals and "keeping them in their
place"---boy, is that distorted thinking, to my mind. Gringos go to Baja because of the "way it is"-----most do not want to change a thing, nor do
they want the people to change because most of us see them as having a life that just may be more "quality" than ours, and most of them are HAPPY
living it!!! The one's that are less happy, or not happy at all, in many cases are emulating gringo life styles, a much tougher row to hoe than the
life of their parents. That is their fault and their decision, Margie, not ours.
Those folks are making their own individual decisions, not being forced to do anything by gringos. I am constantly amazed at your kind of thinking,
and I fear for the Mexicans who feel as you do. And by the way, if you want to be a Vagabundo, it is still possible-----most find that life just to
rough, again, their individual decision, but there still are a few.
Wow, you sure got me riled up!!!!! Hope I am not offending you---that is not my intention, but I sure don't agree with the statements you made above.
Imperialists!!!!!! Oh my Gawd, I have not even heard that expression for years, and certainly not in reference to we'uns. Maybe I am out of the loop.
Nuff said by me----what say you???
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FrankO
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Location: Ocean Beach
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Serious accusations/allegations
Maybe you two kids could work this out in the U2U mode. Nah, it probably
wouldn't work out too well w/o an audience.
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Roberto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by FrankO
Maybe you two kids could work this out in the U2U mode. Nah, it probably
wouldn't work out too well w/o an audience. |
FrankO, I feel the need to remind you ... are you trying to make sense of this?
You and KT have a beer (if she's drinking, which she probably isn't) on me. Un brindis a tu ninos.
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FrankO
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Thanks for yanking me back to reality.  Whew! That was close. 
KT's had a few w/me but she takes it pretty easy w/the new ones here. I was going to go run but that cold one sounds good.
[Edited on 7-13-2004 by FrankO]
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Herb
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What a shame!
Bernie shares this nice little story with us with a sentiment that many can appreciate, but someone had to come crashng in with her personal stuff and
try to turn it into a barroom brawl.
Look, Margie, many of us are slow, but we have all pretty much figured out that you don't like and dont trust JR. OK, we get it! Move on! But please don't clutter up every thread reminding us
of it just because he posts in that thread too!
Sr. Bernie, thanks for sharing. I saw your post and I was moved. I'm sorry I didn't just reply to your message via U2U now.
By the way Margie, I can't resist wondering if it is a reading comprehension lesson or a political science lesson you need but.... JR.... card
carrying Republican suck-up?
Now THAT'S funny!
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Capt. George
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PHOTO
JR, thanks for the photo of my long lost twin brother.....
also the photo of Mom and Dad you posted....so glad you love our family!
El Vikingo
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