"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Our new marina dock is much friendlier than the one last year. It
isn't the people so much as it is that there are people. Last year,
we were in the land of boats that never go out. The boats don't get
much more use where we are now but the people are there nearly every
night emptying beer cans, grilling, and enjoying their bit of
waterfront.



Almost every time I come in now, I can count on seeing a large
friendly fellow walking towards my slip to heave heroically on the top
of the lifeline stanchions to keep the boat from getting close enough
that I can step off instead of jumping or to heave the bow line so
tight that I can't bring the stern in.



Tonight, I was coming in with my son and one of his friends standing
on each side of the rail gate. We'd had an exhilarating sail and they
were in the mood to participate and let me talk them through the
process. Actually, there isn't much process at the new slip where
current, wind, and prop walk all align nearly as favorably as they did
fiendishly at last year's slip from hell. I motor in, stop the boat,
step off, tie the lines. Why the neighbors haven't noticed this by
now and still insist on rushing over to crack the gelcoat around my
stanchion bases is just one of life's mysteries.



Anyway, there was one of the BFF's "Big Friendly Fellows", walking
quickly towards our slip. "Thanks,", I called, "We're all set." He
stopped and turned back. I turned my attention back towards the side
of the boat. I like to stop three inches off and it was a little hard
to judge with two large teenagers in the way. When I was about to put
the boat in reverse and looked up, there was the BFF standing right by
the bow cleat. I knew the boys were going to defer to him and flub
my instructions so I said again, "THANKS, We're all set. I want to
talk them through it."



The boat stopped but he didn't. He grabbed the bow line as the boys
stepped off. I said again, "THANKS VERY MUCH. WE'VE GOT IT!"



He dropped the bow line in the water and went stalking off. I
realized he was angry. He shouted back over his shoulder as he left,
"That's the way we do things here. We're a friendly bunch and we help
each other out." Well, some days you just can't help being an
asshole, (me, I mean). I guess he won't be helping me again.



By this time of course, the boys, distracted by the exchange, had
completely lost track of the program. I grabbed the last foot of
dockline just before the bow swung into the next boat. Things were
happening too quickly now to get the boys engaged so they just ended
up standing around watching me tie up, again.



I was a drug counselor in a former lifetime and still remember one of
the books that was in the center. The title was, "Does Help, Help?"
Good question.


Good story.

It enumerates more of the 'sailing by committee" syndrome. Like the guy
said, "That's the way we do it around here." What horrifies me is people
like that actually believe it "takes a village." Worse yet is their
sensibilities are offended if you reject their village.

The bottom line is they are inept and they feel threatened by those who
display competence. In their way of thinking everybody should be happy
needing help from everybody else. It's to their advantage to view the
world that way since THEY can't get along without help from others.
Rather than change for the better they hope everybody else changes for
the worse.

Wilbur Hubbard