THE GREYING OF THE BAJA

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the week of April 29, 2008


So, there I was at the La Paz Airport waiting for some clients to come off the plane from Los Angeles. Pick them up and take them to the hotel for their fishing vacation.

I normally send our drivers down to get our clients, but these clients were good family friends from long ago so I decided to go myself. I hadn’t been to the airport in about a year.

I’m used to seeing the security gates open from the inspection area and guys loaded with rod tubes and coolers, come waddling out with all the gear. They would roll out…one after the other in an unending procession of guys bursting to do some fishing You could feel the barely contained exuberance of their finally arriving here in the sunshine. Respective tour companies were greeting them with hand lettered signs and ice-cold beers and sodas. Let the vacation begin!

But “Aye Dios Mio!”

There were no fishermen coming off the plane. Instead, each time the security gates opened, there were grey-haired folks. Lots of them. It was like Senior World must have had some special tour or something or it was a special package trip like the ones that load busses to Vegas!

They weren’t carrying ice chest or rods. Nor did they have that, “point-me-to-the-nearest-margarita-bar-look” in their eyes.

Nah, these looked like our moms and dads and Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary and along with their little rollaway suitcases, they had boxes of linens, bundles from the “Crate and Barrel” and “Williams Sonoma.”

And I looked around at the people waiting for them. Not many tour or sportfishing operators. Instead, there were other grey-haired folks and after the hugs and greetings, there were snippets of chatter like:

“So, did the carpenters finish the cabinets yet? “We need to stop by the realtors office after we pick up the bank statements for the condo.”
“I found the BEST housekeeper named Maria Teresa!”
“I hear the tile man finished the bathroom counters but they still hadn’t put in the plumbing yet.”

It’s building and it’s real estate and it’s development. As real as the dash across the Oklahoma plains by the prairie sooners eager to stake out their plot of land, the boom is on. And all the aging retiring baby boomers have arrived.

And I said, “Man, there’s a lot of old folks coming off that plane!” Then, I realized that I’m one of them too and I’d have the salt-and-pepper hair as well if I had any hair left! Those aren’t senior citizens! That’s my own generation retiring to Baja. No longer the casual vistors. They’ve come to stay!

In other matters…

My amiga, Pam Bolles, owner of the Baja Big Fish Co. in Loreto and also the IGFA representative in the area, reports illegal yellowtail netting at the north end of Carmen Island. This is within the restricted Marine Park Zone.

According to Pam, nothing is being done to enforce the park rules which prohibit commercial pangas from netting in this area.

“We buy tickets to support the marine park for each and every client that fishes with us each and every day as per the law. The fee for these tickets must include enforcement of the very rules and laws that outline the park management plan,” says Bolles.

The Marine Park offices promise to “look into this.” However, Pam says that hauls of NINE TONS of yellowtail per day are being taken and sold to the fish buyers at 8 pesos a kilo (translation: 40 cents per pound).

She’s asking anyone seeing this activity or sportfishing in the area to take photos and submit them to her at http://us.f523.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=paminlto@gmail.com So that she can take the images to the park office.

Lastly, a parting good-bye to a fellow fish brother.

Francisco “Pancho” Aguilar was the owner and operator of the Baja Pirates Fishng Fleet here in La Paz. He was 42 years-old when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while out on the boats. A funnier and more popular guy you would never find.

I’m sure many of you either fished with him over the years or met him at the outdoor shows. He and I started our respective fishing fleets about 13 years ago. Although our paths diverged as we each grew our respective businesses and it became harder to hang out together, he was always good for a grin and a joke. He will be missed.

He leaves two young daughters, Andrea and Kamila. Kamila is only a few months old. Andrea is almost a teenager.

A trust fund scholarship is being set up through Bank of America and Bancomer by Pancho’s partner, Leonard Phillips. Check can be made to: Andrea Aguilar or Kamilla Aguilar at 10016 Pioneer Blvd suite 110 Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670 or call toll free to 866 454-5386 to make a credit card contribution.

Make everyday count. Tomorrow is never promised.




That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.

THE BROTHER-IN-LAW-UNION!

Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of April 15, 2008

PHOTO 1: The sound of one man painting!


I get asked all the time what it’s like just moving down here to Mexico; to run a business; to build a house. The appeal of simply doing a “Jed Clampett: and loading up to move to the land of manana and tacos has an understandable appeal.

That is certainly reflected in the number of gringos snapping up property left and right all along the Baja Peninsula. The sound of the mariachis is now so often wrapped around the equally rancorous sound of earthmovers, backhoes and jackhammers. Que lastima!

I tell folks to read all they can. Get on the internet. Go to the bookstore. Get their hands and brains wrapped around as much literature as you can and absorb it all. Then quietly file it away because NOTHING ever works the way it’s planned down here.

For one thing, none of the books will ever tell you about the most powerful union here in Mexico. We have unions (sindicatos) for everything in Mexico. The waiters, taxi drivers, room cleaners…every occupation…has a union that can bring a business or project to it’s knees if you go sideways with them.

But none is stronger or more neglected than the infamous “Sindicato de Cunados!” Basically, the Union of Brother-in-Laws!

For example, I’ve spent about 3 years trying to get a simple concrete block building erected, re-modeled and opened up so I can run our business more effectively. Anyone who has tried building something in Mexico can bear witness. I got pulled into the trap early and has taken 3 years to finally catch on.

I have a guy who is cleaning some of the old concrete debris off the lot. I happen to mention, that I need some cabinetry work done. “Senor Jonathan, don’t worry. I will have my brother-in-law come down. He is a muy bueno carpintero (carpenter) .” Wow. Great. A personal reference and all.

I bring him on. He starts the project. Two days later, he quits. He says someone stole his tools. Can I help him out by loaning some money to buy tools s and take it off the bill? Well, I have half a shelf complete so I guess I’d better lend him the money so he can finish. Three days later, he’s no longer answering the phone. Neither is the first guy who referred him. I still have half a shelf.

Another “brother-in-law” was referred to patch a few cement holes in the wall. “Si, Senor Jonthan. Don’t worry. I have mucho experiencia!” I leave for a week. I come back and two of the 4 holes are patched.

But the guy had a truckload of sand dumped on the sidewalk outside the building blocking the walkway and into the street. He used all of two shovels of sand to make his cement patch. Then he left. He stopped answering his phone too!

I now have a 5-foot-high-pile of sand in front of my building that the kids use to play “King of the Hill.” The city say it will give me a citation for blocking a public walkway and causing a traffic hazard into the boulevard. Of course, I paid another “brother-in-law” to truck it back somewhere else. I didn’t ask and didn’t want to know.

I had a brother-in-law welder do some great iron work for me so I gave him a project of building me a gate. It was beautiful too. Until I tried to open it. He had welded it shut.

Another brother-in-law was referred by several people as being a “great professional painter.” I got a quote from him to paint several rooms. “Senor Jonathan, one week job. That is it!”

Three weeks later, when I come back, they have not finished. “We only had one paint brush” says the head brother-in-law. “In our quote we made a mistake and did not include extra paint brushes so we only had one.” They did not buy more because I told them not to go over the budget!

Two watched while one painted. Then, it was the next guys’ turn and the other two watched. Three weeks of this. From what I’ve heard, that’s the prototype “union” job. One works and two watch.

And it was not the right color. They thought I would like the color THEY chose better. They also explained that the color they chose was cheaper so it saved me more money!

If I did not like the color, no worries. They would happily re-do it again with the right color! And they would give me a good quote and INCLUDE enough paint brushes. Only problem is that the color I wanted is now no longer in stock and will take 1 month to get.

But don’t worry. They have another brother-in-law in the paint business who can get the paint faster. For a small fee. Of course. A discount no less because “Somos familia!” (We are family!) He says with a grin!

Ah, the union. It goes on and on! I have met and had the pleasure to work with so very many good workers down here. Many become friends. But beware the Union of Brother-in-Laws! There is one to fix your car; install your TV; and build you a wall. Most of the time, you just have to laugh and roll with it. Shake your head. That’s Mexico.


That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.