Investing time--- for free time gain

Two days.
Six hours.
28 waves the first day.
39 waves the next.
Paddling.
Paddling.
Paddling.

Feels great to be sore.

But why were there 15 guys out in the lineup at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Wednesday.
Unemployment sucks.
Makes the lineup grow.
Too many 20 somethings in the water.
Don't they have jobs?

Last year, this time, there were only 5 guys out at best.
Welcome to the future.

The better the wetsuits....the bigger the lineup.


Oh yeah.
I am a commercial fisherman.
Decided that I wanted to do it---not so much for the money.
I did it for the adventure...and to prove to myself I could---with no experience.

A 30 something who found a seasonal job that lets me surf from October to February.
The real surfing season.

But I need to get back to 'getting ready for' work.
39 days till the season starts.
39 days till I permanently affix the family size Dawn liquid soap bottle in the shower.
The ultimate degreaser---de fish oiler.

39 days to get the boat ready for every potential mishap.

Last year...the alternator went out at 2 in the morning.
Not a soul in site for miles.
It's like sitting alone in a graveyard as the fog rolls in.

Oh yes.
The prop fell off 3 times last season.
Nothing like hitting the accelerator and not moving....at around 1 in the morning.
Wondering if you can get anyone on the radio who is willing to lose the rest of the night of fishing just to 'help a guy out'?

Ran out of gas a few times due to a faulty fuel gauge.
Too embarrassing to ask for help.
Just sit and wait.
Till someone calls you.
"How's the fishin'?"
And you humbly admit.
They laugh.
And then they come help you.
Pity tow.

Oh yes.
A few things to fix.
Or I will suffer more ego blows.

But most certainly
something will still go wrong...
when least expected.

Such is commercial fishing.

But today.
It's really hard to keep my mind straight.
Too many clean lines rolling in from the horizon.

More coffee.
And stick my head down in the engine.
No duck diving today.

Insuring another year.
Fishing all summer and surfing all winter.