Well, it’s officially summer here on St. Simons Island! Hotels are full, restaurants are packed, and traffic is a little busier. But we wouldn’t want it any other way! I always encourage locals to be good ambassadors to the throngs of visitors who flock to our little slice of paradise each summer.
Many who come down to visit dream of buying a second home or someday retiring to the island. With that in mind, I thought I’d share with you one of the most commented on publisher’s letters I’ve written through the years. Some of you may remember reading it. I didn’t write the story, but it conveys how I feel about elegant island living on St. Simons Island.
The Mexican Fisherman
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican 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 on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “only a little while.” The American then asked why didn’t the Mexican didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish. The Mexican replied that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?” The Mexican fisherman responded, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then to LA, and eventually to NYC, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?” and the American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then?”
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions … Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
If you ARE fortunate enough right now to be “livin’ the dream” here on St. Simons, be sure to welcome any and all visitors. Some of them will probably be your future neighbors. If you’re visiting, welcome! Enjoy the island. We’re glad you’re here!
